A Lady of Distinction

We consider ourselves doubly blessed to not only experience the forward leadership of Dr. Brown but also to witness the complimentary services and gifts of our first lady, Mrs. Jane E. Brown.

Mrs. Brown credits her dear parents Irving Russell and Jane Rosetta Smith, who owned and operated a neighborhood grocery store, for fostering an entrepreneurial spirit within her from an early age.

A woman of distinction, Mrs. Brown attended Spelman College just long enough to meet her husband-to-be, Amos C. Brown, who was a neighboring student at Morehouse College. After receiving her B.A. degree in French from North Central College of Naperville, Illinois, Mrs. Brown went to live in France and Spain through the Experiment in International Living Program.

In 1966, after having arrived back to the U.S. she married Pastor Brown as they prepared to move to West Chester, Pennsylvania, and later St. Paul, Minnesota where he pastored churches. Her effort resulted in galvanizing a committee of more than 25 persons, and organizing an event called “Living Beyond Limits” which was held at St. Mary’s Cathedral, attracted over 4,000 people, and featured the World-renowned Nick Vujivic, a man with no arms or legs as the keynote speaker. The program included the presence, commendation, and support of the likes of Danny Glover, mayors, and state senators.

In 1976 when Dr. Brown accepted the call to become Pastor of Third Baptist, Mrs. Brown demonstrated her delicate yet humble taste when she meticulously set up their beautiful new home in our Church parsonage.