Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, at Prentiss First Baptist Church for Mrs. Garnell Brown, 73, who died Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018, at her residence. Rev. Micheal Evans officiated with interment following in the church cemetery. Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Garnell Brown was born to the late Shugella Davis and Garcell Laird. She attended J.E. Johnson High School and Prentiss Institute for Early Childhood Development. She was employed with Sophia Sutton Head-Start and later Polk’s Meat until retirement.

Mrs. Brown was a member of Prentiss First Baptist Church where she served as member of usher, choir and pastor’s aid.  She later joined Word Fellowship where she served on usher board and women’s mission ministries.

She was preceded in death by: four brothers, Zebedee Davis Sr., Thomas Davis, Sylvester Laird and James Lee Butler.

She is survived by: husband, Willie Brown Jr.; four sons, Jerry (Trina) Laird, William (Gloria) Brown, Jr., Shelby (Debra) Brown and Mario (Queene) Brown; four daughters, Benita (Johnny) Bramlett, Vanilla (Allen) Ross, Heather (Eldric) Allen and Dionna (Michael) Evans; sister, Bernice Knight; 24 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.