(October 1, 1931 – September 2, 2020)
Bobbidine (Dean) Owens Brown passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday, September 2, 2020. Dean was born October 1, 1931 in Abbeville, Alabama to Robert Shelley Owens and Doretha Sowell Owens. Following her graduation from high school, she married the love of her life, Julian Maxwell Brown on August 16, 1950. The two immediately moved to Washington, DC where Max served in the Army during the Korean War. The couple returned to Abbeville following Max’s discharge from the Army, where they had three children. In 1959, they moved their family to Mobile, Alabama where they remained for most of the remainder of their life together other than a brief period in the mid-sixties, when they lived in New Orleans, Louisiana. In May of 2020, the couple moved to Birmingham to live under the loving care of their daughter Deborah. Dean loved her Lord and was a faithful member of Kingswood United Methodist Church. Her professional life included working with Gayfer’s Children’s Shoe Department from 1972 until her retirement in 1996. She is predeceased by her parents, Robert and Doretha Owens, brothers, Frank Shelley Owens and Ralph Owens and sister, Carolyn Owens White Robinson. Of all the blessings she experienced in this world, she treasured and loved her family more than anything and she made sure they knew it. As the matriarch of her still growing family, Dean was affectionately known only as Memaw to all those who loved her. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Julian Maxwell Brown, her children, Deborah Brown Sparks of Birmingham, Kenneth Maxwell Brown (Diana) of Mobile and Olivia Brown Host (Jerry) of Ridgeland, MS. She is also survived by seven beautiful grandchildren, Kerri Amanda Sparks Bevis (Kevin), Meredith Leigh Sparks Downing (Darrell), Robert Franklin Brown (Kim), Kenneth Wade Brown (Brandy), Taylor Jeffery Brown (Brittany), Christopher Owens Host (Rachel), Lauren Elise Host Stratton (Matt) and thirteen great grandchildren, Chandler Anthony Bevis, Ellery Kate Bevis, Conner James Downing, Caden Jackson Brown, Kinsley Grace Brown, Isabella Madison Brown, Bayler Avery Brown, Julian Wyatt Brown, Tucker Aaron Brown, Laura Elizabeth Brown, Nora Keylon Host, Robert Greer Stratton, Emily Host Stratton. She left a legacy of love and great memories for all who knew her. Funeral service will be held Monday, September 7, 2020 at 2:00 PM from the chapel of Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 12:00 Noon. If attending, please comply with social distancing guidelines. Facial masks are required. Condolences may be offered at www.mobilememorialfunerals.com.