Celia H. Brown

Celia H. Brown, 87 years, of Oxford, NC died Saturday, December 30, 2023, at the Hock Family Pavilion, Duke Hospice Care, Durham, NC. After several wonderful days filled with visits with family and dear friends, she passed away very peacefully surrounded by family.

Celia was born in Granville County, NC, to Ernest Durand Perkins and Alma Gray Smart on August 1, 1936. After high school, Celia worked as a clerk for several companies before finding her calling making fresh biscuits and cinnamon rolls for the happy patrons of Sunrise Biscuit Company. She later worked for 18 years at Lenox China and found great satisfaction there serving as a finisher and trainer and developing life-long friendships with several beloved co-workers. After retiring from Lenox, Celia embraced the modern age and thrived on computer classes at the community college – proudly learning how to use email, track her finances, connect with family and friends on social media, print new pictures of her grandchildren for her collection, and how to “punch up” searches on the computer.

Celia was a godly woman who saw the best in each person and especially loved children. Throughout the community, many of those who knew her probably never knew her first name – to the majority of the world, she was “Grandma.” It did not matter to Celia one single bit if you were kin, friend, or a stranger she’d just met: she loved everyone unconditionally and was the very embodiment of what a grandma is meant to be.

A compassionate and giving person, Celia felt great joy in helping people. She was often found happily shopping at yard sales and thrift stores – putting others’ needs above her own while searching for items with friends and loved ones in mind. With her delightful, authentic smile, she sparked many conversations and friendships – whether in a doctor’s office waiting room, in a store check-out line, or on her yard sale adventures.

Celia also expressed her love through cooking, and the family often clamored over her biscuits, chocolate pies, pancakes, banana pudding, and the Brunswick stew she and Joe made together as a labor of love. Even when the act of standing for periods of time became too difficult, Celia determinedly figured out ways to continue cooking and passed along a few of her secrets to continue the tradition.

As her mobility reduced, Celia found great pleasure playing Candy Crush, watching several favorite TV series on repeat, enjoying Christmas movies year-round, expressing her creativity by coloring digital pictures, and keeping up with friends and family on her tablet. Dedicated to contributing her fair share, she took great delight in sweeping whatever portion of flooring she could reach with her favorite purple broom and carefully folding clothes for her family. She could often be found warming up by her sunny bedroom window, tucked into her scooter with her “reachers” and tissues at hand, and communing with a red cardinal that frequently visited the front porch railing.

Celia is survived by her children: son Darryl Keith Henderson of Oxford; son Jeremy Scott Brown (Julie) of Holly Springs; and son Jason Edward Brown (Colleen) of Clayton; her grandchildren, Monique Henderson Renn, Brandon Tyler Brown (Deanna), Tyler Keith Henderson, Madison Hope Brown (Travis), Olivia Faith Brown (Andrew), and Matthew Archer Brown; great-grandchildren, Dawson Thomas Patterson (Makayla), Haley Jade Patterson, Jayden Dupree Henderson, Brantley Walker Brown, Oakley Cameron Brown, and Kasyn Makay Brown; her brothers, Wilbur Perkins (Barbara), Forrest Perkins, and Bobby Perkins (Margaret); her sisters-in-law, Barbara S. Perkins and Peggy I. Perkins; her brother-in-law, Ottie Brown (Sue); and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Celia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 55 years, Joseph “Joe/Papa” Goodwin Brown (d. 2020); her infant children, Joseph Goodwin Brown, Jr., and Angela Darnell Brown; her grandson, Cameron MaKay Brown; her brothers Raley Lanier Perkins and Reginald “Reggie” Grey Perkins; and her sister, Mary Perkins Brown.

A celebration of Celia’s life is planned for Sunday, January 7, 2024, with the service beginning at 1pm at Gentry-Newell & Vaughan Funeral Home, 503 College St., Oxford, NC 27565. Prior to the service, the family will receive friends during a time of visitation from 11am-1pm. A graveside service will follow at Amis Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery, 9198 Amis Chapel Rd, Oxford, NC 27565.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org/donate or to Hock Family Pavilion - Duke HomeCare & Hospice at givetodukeathome.org.