Virginia S. Brown

Virginia Sue Brown, born Virginia Sue Phillips on August 23, 1956, in Tunica, Mississippi, peacefully departed from this world on June 10, 2023. She was the 13th child of Donnie Mae Yates-Phillips and James C. Phillips Sr., and one of fifteen siblings. Virginia's family relocated to Memphis, Tennessee when she was a young girl, where she discovered her faith in God. 

Known affectionately as Sue by many friends and family in Tennessee, Virginia embraced her religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness. On September 1, 2018, she was rebaptized as a member of the Plymouth Congregation Kingdom Hall in Detroit. For eight years, Virginia served faithfully, spreading the teachings and good news of Jehovah. 

On June 8, 1986, Virginia entered into holy matrimony with Muhammad Hodari Shabazz in Detroit, Michigan. Although their union ended in divorce in 1998, they were blessed with seven children, nineteen grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. 

In 1989, Virginia obtained her Associates Degree from Highland Park Community College. She was a staunch advocate for education and actively volunteered in the schools her children attended. She served on parent boards and actively participated in neighborhood block clubs, striving to maintain the beauty and safety of her communities. 

For over 15 years, Virginia was employed by the Detroit Board of Education, where she worked as a skilled laborer and carpenter until her medical retirement in 2012. 

During her leisure time, Virginia found joy in listening to music, cooking, traveling, learning the latest dances, attending concerts, spending time with her family, gardening, and nurturing plants. Above all, she cherished engaging in conversations with anyone willing to listen. She freely shared her advice, words of encouragement, and life experiences, whether sought or unsolicited. 

Virginia Sue Brown was preceded in death by both her parents, Donnie Phillips and James Phillips Sr.; her brothers James C. Phillips Jr. (Ruby), Winston Phillips (Clemantine), Eddie Phillips (Ann), Robert Phillips (Nick), Roosevelt Phillips (Rose), Levorn Phillips, and Author Phillips; her sistersRuby Stein Ester (Forest), Betty Jean Garner (Author), Devonia Johnson (Belton), her oldest sonMuhammad Brown (1994) and her oldest daughter Katrina Phillips (2016). 

She is survived by her: ex-spouse Muhammad Shabazz;  her siblings Annie Laura Jones (Freddie), Genn Phillips, Erma Phillips, and Janice Barnes-Boyd; her children Zeundrax Hurks (Elridge), Fareeda Brown, Fulani Brown-Pitts, Hodari Brown and Mensah Brown; her grandchildren Alisha Phillips, Galen Phillips, Porscha Sanders (Tyrell), Dashay Harris, Freeman Johnson (Angelynea), Shakeer Williams, Dimitrus Smith, Demarco Brown, Khalil Hosendove, Jaquari Brown, Jaquar Brown, Myra-marie, Malayla Shaw, Jalen George, Clinton Phillips, Jamari Samuels, Akeelah Brown, Hudson Hurks, and Dontrell Brown; and her great-grandchildren Tidus Phillips, A'Niyah Cannon, Dashawn Johnson, A'Mor Sanders, Delilah Smith, Karsyn Jammar, and A'Yanna Sanders. 

She also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends whose lives she touched with her kindness, love, and wisdom. 

Virginia Sue Brown's memory will forever be cherished by those whose lives she enriched, and she will be dearly missed. May her soul rest in eternal peace.