Janetta Brown's Obituary
Janetta McNamara Brown, 85 of Germantown, passed away March 27, 2016. Born December 5, 1930, in Wichita Falls, TX, to Vyneta Little McNamara and David D. McNamara, she was preceded in death by her parents, her aunt Janetta Little Smith, brothers David Michael and William Fred McNamara, nephews David McNamara and Scott McNamara, and her beloved husband Sommers Terry Brown, originally of Memphis and later of Washington, DC. Janetta was a graduate of North Texas State College and enjoyed a career as a professor of dance at St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, and Salisbury State University, Salisbury, MD. Janetta was an active member of the Catholic Church, managing for many years, a thrift shop benefiting the outreach programs of St. Thomas Apostle Catholic Church in Washington, DC. In Washington, she also served as a long-time docent of the Smithsonian Museum. In 2005, Janetta moved from Washington, DC, to The Village of Germantown and became a communicant at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. She is survived by her sister’s-in-law, Jagoe Brown Wade of Huntsville, AL, Evelyn (Arthur) Heun, of Memphis, brother’s-in-law, Norman Brown, Jr (Paula) of Germantown, and Marion (Helen) Brown of Los Altos, CA, the survivors of her brothers, Valorie McNamara, Kelly McNamara (Julie), and William McNamara of CA, Patrick McNamara of TX, their children and grandchildren , along with 4 nephews, 4 nieces, 8 great-nephews and 3 great-nieces from her husband’s family. The family would like to extend their thanks to the staff at The Village of Germantown for their kindness and care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Sommers and Janetta Brown Endowed Scholarship,University of Notre Dame, Development Office, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556. The family will receive friends at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 8151 Poplar Ave, Germantown, TN, Monday, April 4 from 10:00-10:30 followed by a funeral mass at 10:30AM. Interment will follow at Memorial Park
What’s your fondest memory of Janetta?
What’s a lesson you learned from Janetta?
Share a story where Janetta's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Janetta you’ll never forget.
How did Janetta make you smile?