Carrie L. Brown

“The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures…” ~23rd Psalm

   Sis. Carrie Leatha Brown of Rochester, New York was born September 9, 1939, to the late Julius Donnie and the late Mary Jane Chestnut of Fair Bluff, North Carolina.  Our Carrie (Cat, Aunt Cat) was called to be with the Lord on March 22, 2023.  She was the 5th of their thirteen children.  Preceding her in death was her son Alphonso Brown and her siblings, Wilbert Lee, Maggie Jane, Pearlie Mae, Julius Donnie Jr., William Arthur, Thomas Harrison, George Allen, and Evangeline. 

     Affectionally known as “Cat,” she accepted Christ as her personal savior at an early age at Hickory Grove Missionary Baptist Church. As a young woman, Cat lovingly cared for her younger siblings, which helped her become an awesome cook. She graduated from Finklea High School in 1957.

She met and married Alpaul Brown on September 26, 1958. They relocated to Rochester in 1965.  She worked several jobs, including Eastman Kodak until being medically retired in 1986. Cat was a faithful member of Aenon Missionary Baptist Church, where she served on several different committees. She was an avid bowler and was a part of many leagues. She was Steph Curry’s #1 fan and loved her NY Mets. She was famous for her chocolate, coconut, and punchbowl cakes. During the holidays, she would sell anywhere from 25 to 30 of them. Easily the “second-best” cook in our family. She was also famous for her stuffing, fried chicken, cornbread, homemade biscuits, macaroni and cheese, dressing, and mixed greens. In other words, the woman could cook. Cat was loving, understanding, and always there for anyone in need. She was a great listener, and always had a word (whether kind or otherwise, it was a word.) She was beautiful inside and out. In 2008, she moved to Augusta, G.A., where she lived until her passing.

Left to cherish her memories are her husband, Alpaul, their children, Diane Mitchum of Santee, S.C., Nathaniel Brown (Nate) of Durham, N.C., Rickart Bernard (Ricky) of Rochester, N.Y., Teresa Howard of Durham N.C., Gloria Haggerty (Jean) of Augusta, G.A., Paulene Bernard (Derek Morgan), seven grandchildren, Michael (LaToya) Brown, Lauren (Christopher) Clark, Nicholas Bernard, Alexander Brown, Kamira Bernard (Desmond Chambers fiancé), Ashlen Bernard, and Jaiden Haggerty, five great-grandchildren Giovanni Clark, Angelo Clark, Jai Brown, Jaxson Brown, and Kameron Chambers. Siblings, Earnest (Daisy) Chestnut Sr. of Rochester, N.Y., Alfred (Sylvia) Chestnut of Durham, N.C., Johnny Chestnut Sr. of Sodus, N.Y., and Eula F. Chestnut of Augusta, G.A., sister-in-law, Sarah Gause of Augusta, Ga., brother-in-law, Joseph Taylor of Boston Massachusetts, a very special nephew Ernest Chestnut Jr and very special great-nephew Ronald Inman Jr, her special friends Minnie Dickerson of Rochester, N.Y., Rev Robert and Josephine Miller of Rochester N.Y., dear cousin Christine Livingston of Hackensack N.J. and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

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