Julia B. Brown

Julia Beatrice Burris Brown, 86, died peacefully March 5, 2020 in Ft Myers, Florida.  Born in Concord, N.C. March 23, 1933, she moved to O’Fallon, Missouri before relocating to Ft Myers. Julia loved people of all ages and her smile and inviting personality will long be remembered.  She was employed by the Cabarrus County Schools as a teacher assistant for Exceptional Children.  She entered the program when it was in the early stages working her years at Hartsell School and Long School.  Although these years were technically a job, for her it was more than that, it was her passion.  She formed relationships with many of her students that continued long after her years in the classroom ended. She first met the love of her life when she was an eighth grader and on  March 29, 1952, she married John Robert “Bob” Brown, Jr.  They were devoted to each other for almost 40 years before his death in 1992.  She was also preceded in death by her parents James Martin and Julia Beatrice Joyner Burris. Siblings that preceded her in death are brothers Ralph, Grover, and Howard Burris and sisters, Myrtle Whitley, Josephine Blackwelder, Nellie Menius, Ilene Page, Evelyn Hartsell, and  Betty Burris. Family was very important and she treasured hers, to the point she was willing to relocate to be with them.  Julia embraced the role of MawMaw to the fullest.  She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Mark Herman of Ft. Myers, Florida, grandson John Marcus Herman of St. Louis, Missouri and great- granddaughters, Abby and Bailey Herman.  She is also survived by her sister, Geraldine Smith of Concord, N.C., as well as many nieces and nephews. Julia’s faith life and relationship with Jesus shown throughout her life.  She was active in ministries at both Friendship United Methodist Church and Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church in Concord, N.C. In Missouri she was active in SunRise United Methodist in O’Fallon, Open Hearts and Wesley-Smith Chapel in Wright City. A Celebration of Life will be held in Concord, N.C. in the spring.  The family wishes to commemorate her passion and is requesting contributions, in lieu of flowers, to the Julia Brown Scholarship Fund for Summer Camp in care of Amazing Grace Advocacy, 1030 Central Drive N.W., Concord, N.C. 28027. Gallagher American Family Funeral Home, Ft. Myers, Florida is serving the family.