Mother Viola Barney Brown

Obituary For Mother Viola Barney Brown

Mother Viola Barney Brown, 101, of Albany, Georgia departed this life on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia.

Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. in the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 901 S. Westover Blvd, Albany, Georgia 31701.

Interment will follow in the Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery, 118 Mount Zion Road, Poulan, Georgia.

The family will receive friends following the interment at The Summer Place, 305 West Kelly Street Sylvester, Georgia.

Mother Viola Barney Brown took the hand of Jesus on April 23, 2026, in Albany, Georgia, where she was residing. She was born in Mitchell County, Georgia, to the late Mr. Tom and Annie Barney and resided in Poulan, Georgia, until her health failed. True to her character, she maintained a sharp wit, a keen sense of humor, and an explicit memory of facts and events until she was called home.

Mother Brown attended grade school in Mitchell County, Georgia, and for several years, she resumed learning by attending night school. Mother Brown was a huge proponent for learning and education, and she emphasized the value of an education to each of her children. She worked long hours in fields and later was employed by the now defunct Poulan cotton mill before becoming a housekeeper for many years. Several of those years were spent walking to work; however, she learned to drive later in life. After retiring, she took jobs working at the Sumner sewing factory and the Poulan crab factory. Mother Brown not only kept house for others but she also made homemade dresses for her children, skirts for herself, and altered catalog items, all without a sewing machine.

Mother Brown had served as a long standing member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Poulan, Georgia before joining New Willow Grove Baptist Church. She served on the Usher Board for both churches. Serving as Mother of New Willow Grove she continued to be a faithful and attentive member until such time as she was unable to attend services.

Mother lived through 17 different presidents, and by this, we know that she was divinely blessed. She feared the Lord and trusted Him with her whole heart. Mother was wise, kind, and accepting. She was always grateful for anything and generous with everything. She never met a stranger nor did she treat people strangely. She was gifted with strength, compassion, endurance, and wisdom. Her wisdom was clearly a gift from God as she was arguably one of the most educated persons without a degree. Mother will forever be known for her virtue, her delicious greens and blackeyed peas, and her love for Sam Cooke songs. Our hearts are broken.

At a very early age, Mother Brown married Mr. Albert Brown, Sr. This union would endure for more than 50 years until his death and would yield 12 children. Mother Brown also embraced two stepchildren, Mrs. Mytrice Lindsey and Mr. Archester Brown, Sr., both of whom also preceded her in death. Mother Brown suffered the loss of seven children, Mrs. Emma Spearman, Evangelist Carolyn McEntyre, Mr. Albert Brown, Jr., Pastor Diane McFarley, Mr. Lynn Brown, Mr. Allen Brown, and Minister Andrew Brown; six grandchildren, Mr. Gregory Sherrod Brown, Mr. Phillip Cargile, Jr., Ms. Andrea Cargile, Mr. Adrian Singletary, Mr. Cedric Singletary, and Mr. Anthony Brown. Mother Brown, a centenarian, was the last surviving member of seven siblings, brothers, Mr. Joe Taylor, Mr. Frank Barney, Mr. John Henry Barney, and Mr. Tom Barney, Jr., and sisters, Mrs. Ida Mae Jefferson, Mrs. Thelma Beasley, and Mrs. Lola Jones Roberts.

Mother Brown leaves five children to cherish her memories, Evangelist Virginia Jefferson (Ernest) of Tifton, Georgia, Bishop Ruth Cargile of Fort Mill, South Carolina, Mrs. Annie Singletary (Willie), devoted caregiver of 12 years, of Albany, Georgia, Dr. Shirley Scruggs of Thomasville, Georgia, and Evangelist Larry Brown of Albany, Georgia, also Mr. Robert Rhymes, devoted espoused son; grandchildren, Dr. Bonny Banks (Jeffery), Ms. Sharon Spearman, Mr. Lonnie Spearman III, Mrs. Melissa Brittian (John), Ms. Kesha Jefferson Niskey, Deaconess Lena Baxter (Shedrick), Evangelist Valarie McCullough (Charlie), Minister Anitra Hickman (John), Mr. Christopher McEntyre, Mrs. Shirley Arnold (Willie), Mr. Dwayne Gray (Angela), Mr. Daryl Gray, Ms. Angela Brown, Mr. Lynn Brown, Jr., Ms. Portia Brown, Mrs. Atasha Parker, Mr. Willie James Singletary, Jr., Mr. Marcelle Brown, Ms. Nekena Brown, Mrs. Ariel Cheng (Lanny), Mr. Ian Scruggs (Taylor), Ms. Kamilah Brown, Ms. Mary Brown, Mr. Andrew Brown, Jr., Mr. Michael Brown, Mr. Matthew Brown, Mrs. E. Danielle Williams, Mrs. S. Shay Curtis (Matthew), Mr. Elisha Brown, Sr., Ms. Lydia Brown, and she was also favored with the many grandchildren from the Lindsey family, especially special nephew, Mr. Leonard Lindsey, and also those from Archester Sr., esteemed caregiver, Relisha Morgan, special family friend, Myra Harris, and too numerous to list here was the love for the many great and great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends whom she left behind.

Meadows Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

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