Obituary of Mattie Lee Brown

MRS. MATTIE LEE BROWN of Utica, 74 went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, December 9, 2016. Mattie was born in Port of St. Joe, Florida, the daughter of the late Rev. Joseph Lee and Sarah (Williams) Guilford. Mattie was predeceased by her husband Elder John B. Brown; brorther John Guilford; Leon (Maxine) Guilford; Rev. Jesse (Janice) Guilford; Glennie (Robert) Guilford Russell; Rev. James Guilford and “Little Joe” Guilford. Her eldest sibling, Rev. Joseph Mack (Lina) Guilford of Manassas, Va., survives Mattie. She was the mother of the late Anthony R. (Margaret) Brown and stepmother of the late Louise Delores Brown. Her daughter Deborah A. Brown and stepdaughter Altamese Harris survive her. Grandmother of Langston R. (Charity) Leslie, DeMawn G. Brown, DesMonique Lee Ann Brown, Ruby Brown, Vickie Brown, Chalmer Brown, Anthony Brown, Christine Brown, Kimberly Brown, Sandra Davis and Emanuel Harris Jr. Great grandmother of twenty and great-great grandmother of twelve, as well as an aunt to a host of nieces and nephews. Mrs. Brown came to Utica in the 1950’s. Her educational pursuits began with obtaining her G.E.D, graduated from MVCC and culminated with her receiving a Masters’ degree from Nova University cum laude. She served her community in many different leadership capacities including the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of MVCC, Utica Board of Education, Y.W.C.A., Cosmopolitan Center Family Services and many others. Her executive vision for children, youths and parents resulted in the expansion of Utica Head Start into the Utica Head Start Children and Families Inc. She was also a lifelong member of the NAACP in addition to many civic organizations. She was particularly proud of being one of the founders of the NYS and Region II Head Start Association. Mrs. Brown’s passion was in serving the families of her community. She was a trailblazer and innovator who became one of the first African American women to become the CEO of a Multi-Million Dollar non-profit corporation in the city of Utica. She was the co-founder and lifelong member of her beloved Payne’s Temple C.O.G.I.C. In addition, she was the President and lifelong member of the Christian Women’s Council. Her activism and leadership epitomized her belief in MAKING LIVES BETTER (MLB). Visitation will be on Friday, December 16, 2016 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm at Payne’s Temple C.O.G.I.C., 811 John Street, Utica. Mattie’s funeral service will immediately follow at 4pm. Interment will occur under the direction of T. Revels Gibson Funeral Home and at the convenience of the family.