Lillie Mae Brown, 89, of Blythewood, South Carolina took her last breath on earth and her first breath in heaven September 6, 2022.

The funeral service for Mrs. Brown will be held at 11 o'clock, Thursday, September 8th, at Sandy Level Baptist Church, 408 Blythewood Road, Blythewood, SC 29016 with Reverends Chris Hanley and Mel Wright officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service in the church fellowship hall beginning at 10 o'clock. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

Lillie Mae was predeceased by her husband of 43 years, John Thomas Brown whom she referred to as "the love of her life" and their son, Joel Thomas Brown, who passed away within hours of his birth. Surviving are three daughters, Nancy Ross (Mike) of Blythewood, SC, Judy B Shaw (Lewis) of Lake Wateree, SC, Sharon (Sherry) B Sosbee of Columbia, SC; grandchildren, John Moak (Janet), Brian Moak (Amy), Kimberly Dorton, Christy Greene (Michael), Neal Kelly (Vanessa), Megan Sosbee Keaton (Tyler), Daniel Thomas Sosbee (Sky), April McCaskill, Jason Shaw (Rachel), Jessica Mishra (Karan) and Gracie Hudson (Kehl); as well as 19 great-grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter due in February of 2023.

Surviving siblings are Esther Thomas of Lexington, SC, Rebecca Gunter of Blythewood, SC, Sylvia Browning (Roger) of Blythewood, SC. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her parents Ivy and Lannie Bass; and siblings, Talmadge Bass, Calvin Bass, Larry Bass, Melvin Bass, Donny Bass, Michael Bass, Jerry Bass.

She was employed by Shakespeare Manufacturing and Hobart Manufacturing for many years but her greatest joy was being employed by Trinity United Methodist Church Daycare. She was affectionately known as 'Granny" to the children she tenderly cared for there. Many are the stories told around the dinner table of the joy she received caring for those she called "her precious little ones". She will be greatly missed, but we know she now is at home with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We, her daughters, will forever be grateful that she and our father modeled the love of Christ to us. It is that witness and legacy that we now carry forward into our families and into the world.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to Dot Cornelius, Bernice Simpson and Tammy Shannon for their care to their mother.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 140 Stoneridge Dr #640, Columbia, SC 29210.