JoAnn Brown, 66 of Washington, DC

JoAnn Brown was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, July 9, 1953 to Ben Lewis Brown, Jr. (deceased) and Eartha Lee Hilliard-Brown. She was the 2 ^nd born of five beautiful girls from this loving union.  Throughout JoAnn's life she was very close to her sisters and parents.

JoAnn, who was affectionally known as "Jo," grew up in the Capitol Hill community of Lincoln Park in Northeast, Washington DC and received her education in the District of Columbia public schools; graduating from The Pride of Capitol Hill, Eastern High School.

During her earlier years, JoAnn was employed at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), where she honed and excelled in her administrative skills.  She often used those skills to help others with obtaining employment and other business endeavors.

At a later season in life, JoAnn made the choice to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at Mt. Ennon Baptist Church, where her parents and family attended for over 50 years.

JoAnn loved being with her children, sisters, relatives and friends. She was big on "family" and always had anyone's back when you called on her.  She had a passion for crossword puzzles, trivia and reading. She enjoyed watching classic black and white television shows, Mash, HGTV and comics. She also loved dancing and singing to her favorite group, Frankie Beverly and MAZE.  JoAnn was a friendly face known in the community for her authentic personality, deep dimples and beautiful smile. Her laugh was contagious and heartwarming.

Surrounded by her loving family, JoAnn transitioned from this life into an eternal life of rest and peace on Sunday, June 14, 2020.  JoAnn leaves to cherish her memory, her mother, Eartha Lee Brown, whom she affectionally called "Ali,"six children; Terri Mitchell-Branch (Mark), CheNee Brown, Erica Brown, Ben "Mickey" Brown, LaVon Brown and Yishai "Shy" Smith, five grandchildren; Phillip, Mai'ky, Marquette, Melia and Iyah, four sisters; Elizabeth "Cibbie" Turner (Ricardo),  Marie Anderson, Dorothy "Dotty" Gray, and Barbara Hall, a half-brother,  Franklin Brown, three aunts; Geneva Ashby, Drucilla Johnson (Horace), Mary Oliver and an uncle, Brunson Hilliard, Jr. (Diane) and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Her Viewing will be, 10:00 am until time of Service, 12:00 pm, Wednesday, June 24, 2020 in the Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland 20640.  Interment, Heritage Memorial Cemetery, 13472 Poplar Hill Road, Waldorf, Maryland 20601.