Mary Lillian Brown

Mary Lillian Brown, 87, of New Hill, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026 at WakeMed Cary Hospital. She was born on December 24, 1938, in New Hill, North Carolina, to Ullious and Annie (Lawrence) Holland. Mary was a devoted member of Olive Chapel Baptist Church in Apex, where she served faithfully on the Benevolence Committee for many years. Her unwavering faith and steadfast commitment to prayer earned her the title of a dedicated prayer warrior. Her family often said it seemed as though she had a direct line to Jesus, such was the strength of her spiritual connection. Growing up as the youngest of nine children on the family farm in New Hill, Mary cherished the memories of her childhood and loved sharing stories of "life on the farm." After high school, she moved to Durham to pursue her education, where she met her future husband, Beryl. Their connection was immediate, and after just six months of dating, they married in 1957, remaining devoted to each other until his passing. The couple settled in Durham before returning to the family farm in New Hill in 1976. That same year, Mary began working at Allied Fibers in Moncure, where she remained until her retirement in 2000. Known for her many talents, Mary was a gifted seamstress, an extraordinary cook, and a gardener with a remarkable ability to make anything grow. Her famous Christmas candies, a beloved family tradition, will be passed down for generations to come. In her later years, one of Mary’s greatest joys was visiting Lowe’s Home Improvement with her lifelong best friend, Frances Blanchard. Together, they would search the Garden Center’s clearance section for bargain plants in need of a little TLC. Mary possessed a special gift for reviving even the most neglected plants, often bringing them back to life with positive conversation and extra care. Above all, Mary was a loving mother, always offering wise counsel, and a devoted grandmother, always ready to lend a helping hand. Her legacy of love, kindness, and nurturing will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to know her. Mary is survived by her son, Mark Brown, and his wife, Michelle of Chapel Hill; daughter, Traci Nunn, and her husband, Tommy of Apex; her sister, Fannie Beckwith of New Hill; seven grandchildren, Tiffany Tatum, Brittany Popp, Amber West, Shelley Brown, Joshua Brown, Ethan Nunn and Erica Eveld; eight great grandchildren, Ella Popp, Ava Popp and Emmett Spell; Aubrey, Harper and Laney Nunn; Jacqueline Tatum; and Charlie and Alex Eveld. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Beryl Brown (2011); her parents, Ullious (1965) and Annie Holland (1968); brothers Estice (2004), Foyster (2002), Reid (1991), Ellwood (2013), Odie (2018), Cary (2000), and her sister Larue (2010). Graveside services will be held at Olive Chapel Baptist Church cemetery on January 19, 2026 at 12:00 pm. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Olive Chapel Baptist Church, 600 New Hill Olive Chapel Road, Apex, NC 27502 in her honor.

Mary Lillian Brown

December 24, 1938 - January 15, 2026