Martha Brown

Bonham, Texas -- Funeral services will be held for Martha Dean Bond Brown, age 67 of Bonham, TX at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at Cooper-Sorrells Funeral Home Chapel in Bonham, TX. Bro. Ronnie Ball will officiate the service with assistance from Pastor Eddie Ober. Interment will follow at Willow Wild Cemetery in Bonham, TX. Martha Dean Bond Brown departed this earthly life on October 20, 2009; to meet her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and to join loved ones already there enjoying all of the wonders of Heaven. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Cooper-Sorrells Funeral Home in Bonham, TX.

Martha was born on January 11, 1942 in Bonham, Texas, to Herman Preston and Juanita Louise Ford Bond. As an infant, Martha’s parents took her to First Assembly of God Church in Bonham and she remained a faithful member there her entire life. She was the secretary-treasurer of the church for more than forty years. On August 31, 1963, she married Johnny Mack Brown at that same church.

As a young girl, Martha wanted to play the piano so badly that she made a keyboard out of a side of a cardboard box and would sit for hours pretending to play. Her desire was met when her parents bought an old upright piano and she was able to sit down and “really” play as she was blessed with the ability to play by ear. Martha enhanced her playing by teaching herself to read music.

With this talent, she began as a teenager to play the piano for the church, and later when the church acquired an organ, she became the church organist and continued playing through the last Sunday she was in attendance, October 4, 2009. Through the years, Martha also played the accordion and even tinkered a bit with the guitar.

In 1960, Martha took a clerical position at the Bonham Housing Authority and remained an employee for more than 30 years with the last 12 years there being spent as the Executive Director. After leaving this position, she helped to care for her parents and later became an employee of the facility founded by her sister, H&M Care Home. Upon her sister’s untimely death in 2003, she became the administrator of the home and retained that position until her death.

Friends and family will attest to the fact that Martha was one of the most loving and giving persons you could ever meet. If there was a need, she did her part to ensure the need was met. Her greatest desire was that every area of her life would exemplify Christ. Those who know her can truly say she succeeded.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Judith Bond Mraz, and her brother-in-law, Donnie Mraz.

Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Johnny Mack Brown, son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Nicole Brown of Bonham, and a niece, who was like a daughter, Sharee Owens Munger and her husband, Joe David Munger of Dayton, Ohio. She was “Neanie” to Kevin’s son, Heath and Sharee’s daughter, Jillian who also survive her. Other survivors include aunts, cousins, the residents and employees of H&M Care Home, and a host of friends and extended family.

Family visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, October 23, 2009 at Cooper-Sorrells Funeral Home, in Bonham.

Pallbearers will be Johnny Mack Brown, Kevin Brown, Forest Brown, Tommy Brown, Joe Munger, John Beatty, Bobby Howery, and Charles Mimms.

To convey condolences or sign an online registry, please visit www.coopersorrells.com