Mary Lois Gilliam Brown, 82, entered eternal rest on Thursday, January 12, 2023, at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Born in Woodruff, SC, she spent her early years in Woodruff and moved to Manhattan, NY as a young girl to live with her Aunt and cousins. She attended New York City Schools. She met Joseph T. Brown in NJ and together they moved to Masschusettes where they raised their two beloved daughters, before his death in 1977. As a single parent, she settled in Roslindale to bravely raise her two daughters.
She began working at Raytheon in Norwood, a company she would retire from over 33 years later, and her coworkers quickly became like family to her. It was at Raytheon and in Roslindale that she made close friends that she could count on at all times. Over the years, she enjoyed interior decorating, sewing and crafts, taking trips to visit her family across the states and going on many cruises with her friends in Boston. She was able to retire at age 54 and after her retirement, she enjoyed growing a vegetable garden and using her harvest in recipes. Mary moved to Wrentham in 2020 to be closer to her grandchildren. She had a big heart and was a fabulous cook, which led to her always having an extra seat at the table and a plate of food for friends and neighbors, especially during holidays.
Mary is survived by her two daughters, Jacqueline M. Griswold and her husband Ralph of Randolph and Josette C. Butler and her husband Barrando of Brockton. She was the grandmother of Zylette M. Goler and her husband Jason and Shaun J. Griswold, and the great grandmother of Desmond and Nyvette Goler. She was the sister of Suzon Gilliam Durham of SC and the late Hazel Gilliam Suber and Bessie Gilliam Johnson. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
Private Funeral Service were held. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s name may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute where she received exceptional care from Dr. Ann S. LaCasce, MD, MMSc, Director of the Dana-Farber/Mass General Brigham Fellowship, and her team at the Hematologic Oncology Treatment Center in Boston.
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