Obituary of Juanita R. Brown

November 16, 1932 - January 6, 2026

Juanita R. Brown, 93, of Woodville, passed away Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at Dogwood Trails Manor in Woodville, Texas.

Juanita was known by several names: Nita, Aunt Nita, Nonna, Nana, and the most precious and special – MOM.

Juanita was born November 16, 1932 to Richard Hunt and Olivia Ruth Bailey Brisbin in Port Arthur, Texas. At the age of 10 she and her family moved to Spurger, Texas where her father farmed. It was on the farm where she learned to cook and sew which were her favorite things to do.

Juanita attended school at Beech Creek Baptist Church until the Spurger Public Schools were opened. At Spurger High School she lettered four years in basketball. Her senior year she was awarded the Babe Zaharias Athletic award.

After graduation Juanita moved to Woodville where she worked at the Wisenbaker’s Café. It was there she met the new Highway Patrolman in town, Jimmy Brown. She and Jimmy married on December 14, 1950.

Juanita became active in the Tyler County Dogwood Festival making flowers for many years. In her later years she returned to flower making. She was a James E. Wheat honoree in 2001.

After her 3 children were born she became active in their lives, teaching Sunday School, becoming a Den Mother in her son’s scout troops, and being involved in their school activities.

It was during this time that her expertise in sewing was used. She sewed garments for many ladies in town as well as making cheerleader and twirler outfits. She even made suits for her sons at their request.

Being a proud Aggie Mom, she and other Aggie Mom’s organized the first “Aggie Mother’s Club” in Woodville.

As well as being an active mother, Juanita worked at American Oil Company for several years. She started a career at Citizen’s State Bank that she loved and worked there for 19 years.

In her later years, Juanita was a member of the Tyler County Hospital Auxiliary and worked in the gift shop for many years. She loved greeting the staff and patients each day with a smile on her face.

Juanita was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She instilled in family the will to keep going even in tough times. She always told her children, “It will all work out” when problems arose. She knew to put good times and bad times in God’s Hands.

All of her life she was an avid reader instilling the love of reading into her children by library visits, reading to them, and giving books as rewards.

Her favorite reading time was early each morning when she read her daily devotional, her Bible scripture, and said her prayers. This too set an example for her family who called on Mom, Nonna, Nana for prayers when situations arose.

Juanita’s final journey has been a peaceful one thanks to the nurses and staff of Dogwood Trails Manor, and the nurses and staff of Olive Branch Hospice, especially Erin McBee.

If Juanita were here today, she would be wearing a butterfly on her shoulder and reminding you to pray.

She was preceded in death by parents, Richard and Ruth Brisbin; husband of 31 years, James K. “Jimmy” Brown; brothers, Eldon Brisbin and Robert Brisbin; sisters, Esther Brisbin and Dorothy Snyder.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon R. Brown of Woodville; sons, Richard C. Brown and wife Kaye of Clarksville, AR, and James K. Brown Jr. and wife Jane of Lindale; grandchildren, Clay Brown and wife Trish, Brittany Lumpkin and husband Steven, Crystal Rolleg, Kimberly Brown, Kristen McCown, Grant Brown and wife Lettie, Hannah Wiggs and husband Kevin; great grandchildren, Seth Brown, Mikayla Brown, Colton Rolleg, Carson Rolleg, Kaylee Wilson, J.J. Brown, and Elizabeth Jane Wiggs; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. service time on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Woodville Global Methodist Church with a private burial to follow in Magnolia Cemetery all in Woodville. Officiating will be Reverend Doug Wintermute. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Clay Brown, Grant Brown, Seth Brown, Andrew Lumpkin, Colton Rolleg, Carson Rolleg, and J.J. Brown.

Memorials may be made to Woodville Global Methodist Church, P.O. Box 698, Woodville, Texas 75979.

Services are under the direction of Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home in Woodville, Texas.