Mrs. Ora D. Browne

Mrs. Ora Doris Jordan Browne, was born July 26, 1921 in Decatur, MS to Ollie and Lelia (Nonley) Jordan, the fourth of ten children. She passed away Friday, September 11, 2015 at the age of 94 years. Ora attended the Newton County schools. She accepted Christ at a young age at Decatur Missionary Baptist Church. Ora left Mississippi for better opportunities first settling in Chicago, IL then returning to Mississippi until later when she joined her siblings in Flint, MI and the “chance” at a better life for herself and her son Ken who was by then attending college in Mississippi. She worked at various jobs before being hired at Greene’s Home for Funerals, where she met a friend of the Greene’s, Harry W. Browne of Saginaw, MI. Ora married Harry on October 18, 1962 at the home of her then pastor, Rev. Alfred Robbs of Canaan Baptist Church. Once in Saginaw, Ora worked alongside Harry at Browne’s Mortuary which they owned and operated, in addition to a bail bond service, notary and their numerous rental properties. She never hesitated in providing rides to those they served throughout the state as their need required. Together, they served the community at large. They provided a safe haven for the needy and their doors were always open to the neighborhood children. They mentored and acted as grandparents to many…. Antoinette, Tammy, Linda, Terri, Melissa, Felicia, Ronnita, the Bibbs kids, Toby (Alonzo), Aaron, Dennis, Fayleta, Sharlee, James, Devon, Bobby Jones and many more who called them “Auntie Ora & Uncle Harry” and she was also affectionately known as “RoRo”. Ora was a long time member of the Bright Star Chapter #22, Order of Eastern Star. She united with Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in 1962 and served there until 2007, when she joined TrueVine Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Paul E. Broaddus where she served until her health failed. Mrs. Ora Browne is survived by a son and a daughter, Kenneth (Mablene) Hitts, Flint, MI; Karen Browne-Betts, Saginaw, MI; two step-sons Birtrell (Sharon) and Kenneth (Gladys) Fields both of Saginaw, MI; grandchildren, Kenneth O. Hitts Pasadena, CA, Joi (Frank) Williams III, Baltimore, MD, Jasmine L. Betts and MaKayla L. Betts, both of Saginaw, MI, Kisha (Korye) Jones, San Antonio, Texas and Tammy Swafford-Hemmingway, Miami, FL; great grandchildren, Tiffany (Kelvin) Forte and Crystal Hitts, both of Flint, MI, Branden Betts-Jones, Saginaw, MI and Kynadi Jones, of Texas; 4 great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Gerald (Laverne) Jordan, Gresham, OR; two brothers-in-law, James Kennebrew, Chicago IL and Herbert McIntosh, Flint, MI; two sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Evers Jordan, Chicago, IL, Mayella Jordan, Flint, MI; many nieces and nephews, including, Phyllis Jordan,Pamela Jordan, Delois Jordan, Gloria Jean Jordan, Sandra Jordan, Henry Jordan, Bryan Morris, Ollie Keith Morris, Vincent Morris, Herbert McIntosh, Jr., Johnnie (Joy), Linda, and Bruce (Tawnya) Morris, Lela Pearl Starling, Tammy (Melvin) Smith, Orsmond (Jean) Jordan, L. Renee’ McIntosh and ; a special cousin, Jane Lois Austin, Gary, IN; three adopted sons, Alonzo (Shevonn) Betts, Lawrence E. (Valaria) Moon and Phil Ray; three adopted daughters, Dr. Dorothy Hitts-Robinson, Flint, MI and Traci (Tim) Laffin, New York and Zina B. Davis, Saginaw, MI; god-children, Katrina Frison, Osborne McBride, Robin Hunter, Sharlee Euell, Wilmer Ham-McZee and Shalonda Bailey; her Denham, Nonley, Browne, Bolar and Fields families. Ora also leaves behind her phone crew and long-time buddies, Dorothy Swafford, Lela Johnson, Lucille (Buddy) Surles, Yvonne Cooper, Lillie Mae Cooper, Delia Hall Nichols, Vivian Tarkington, Helen Browning, Roosevelt Jones. her Tabernacle and TrueVine church families and the entire staff of Evans & Browne’s and Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Homes. Mrs. Browne was preceded in death by her husband, Harry W. Browne; parents, Ollie and Lelia Jordan; four brothers, Charles, Orsmond (Ernie), Henry and Frank; four sisters, Berthene (Sam) Hayes, Bessie (Elmer) Morris, Polly Kinnebrew and Ruby McIntosh; a grandson, Medgar M. Hitts; nieces, Edna Rae Reed and Kathy Morris; two sisters-in-law, Rhea (Roger) Hearin and Etta (Warren) Taylor; dear friends Helen King, Elester Fairris, Georgia Gibson, Fannie Johnson, Kate Smith, Deacon Andrew (Pearline) Williams, Frank Sharper, Will Carter, James (Jewell) Benson, Moman Young, Mr. James Fuller, Alfred Neal, Horace Davis, Rev. H.C. Smith and Fayleta Williams. She also outlived a few of her favorite places, Jacobson’s, Hudson’s, Marshall Field’s, Smith Bridgeman, the Vogue, Sullivan’s and Bill Knapps. Family hour will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 18, 2015 at TrueVine Baptist Church, 2930 Janes Street with the funeral service commencing at 12:00 noon. Pastor Paul E. Broaddus will officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the Evans & Browne's Funeral Home, 441 North Jefferson Avenue on Thursday from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Mrs. Ora D. Browne

July 26, 1921 - September 11, 2015