Mother Frances B. Josey

.To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

A Time to be Born: Sarah Frances Toot Brownlee was born on June 19, 1926, in the Simpsonville/Fountain Inn area of South Carolina. She was the only daughter of the late Will and Ethel Ophelia Henry Brownlee.

A Time to Love: She met her only true love, Hilliard Josey and they were united in holy matrimony on August 3, 1954. She was blessed to be the mother of six birthed children, Dorothy, James, Willie, Beatrice, Richard, and Barbara, and she gained a son, Vernon Webb. She was also the mother of many whom she loved and nurtured in so many ways.

A Time to Serve: She was employed by the James Hamilton Stewart Family for over twenty years. There she inherited a second family, they were raised as if they were her children. She loved the late Jimmy, the late Johnny, and surviving Jerry and Marilyn. Her work experience continued during the course of years by being employed by Dan River/Woodside Mill, the McDonalds, Inc. and the Law Firm of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart.

At a young age, she was baptized in a branch (In her words meaning stream) at the Rocky Creek Baptist Church, where she served as a member of the Usher Board. She later joined the Queen Street Baptist Church in Greenville, close to where she lived, due to Rocky Creek only having service on two Sundays a month. There she was known as the Mother of the Young Adult Choir. She was the oldest member of the church and her love for others was exemplified daily. She loved the Lord with all her heart, mind, body and soul.

She was an honorary member of the International Masons and Order of the Eastern Star, Star of Bethlehem #2, Chapter #92 where she served faithfully for many years as the Worthy Matron.

A Time to Enjoy Life: “Mama Josey” as she was affectionately called, was faithful in providing the obituaries from funerals so she could provide them to the people of the Sterling Senior Action Center. They would read them and the Community Informer Newspaper. She looked forward and loved to go to what we called, school everyday. She has travelled extensively to different countries on cruises in her latter years. We wanted her to enjoy life to the fullest and we know she did. She used so many funny sayings in her conversations, such as: Drive on your side of the road; Speak mouth; They done shut my mouth; I can’t say nothing; Eat what you see and that you don’t, don’t ask for it; Shut your mouth wide open; Referring to ministers, stop saying you know the story, everybody don’t know; Um done told you; and when asked, How are you doing? her response was, Tolerable Well.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

A Time to Die: She received her grant of approval to come to her Heavenly home on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, at 1:55pm and she peacefully accepted the call. Her work down here was done. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her only brother, Arthur “Duke” Brownlee.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed: Left to carry on her legacy of love are her children, Dorothy Brownlee Johnson, James Brownlee, Willie, Brownlee, Beatrice Josey, Richard (Rosa M.) Josey and Min. Barbara Josey, all of Greenville, SC, Vernon Webb of Washington, DC, and Elaine Brookins of Easley, SC; grandchildren, Channing (Tiffany) Josey raised in the home, Otis Johnson, Donnell Johnson, Hollie Gilliard, Shameka (Rakiel) Fuller, Carol D. Brownlee,, Christopher Brownlee, Carol Wright, Clarissa Williams, Charlene Clinkscales, LaTonya Humphrey, Sonya Taylor, Willie Brownlee, Jr., Kenneth Brownlee and Pierre Gary; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Otis (Tara) Hooper of Wake Forest, NC; extended families, the Brookins and Stewarts; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.