Marion Brown 'the Mother of PADS' Remembered: Remarkable Resident

A small group gathered at in Homewood last Friday to celebrate the long and extraordinary life of Marion Brown.

Brown, who died Aug. 1 at the age of 95, was fondly remembered as an avid League of Women Voters (LWV) member, a church deacon and "the Mother of PADS."

According to fellow LWV and PADS Steering Committee member Marcia McConnell, Brown was instrumental in getting South Suburban PADS started over 21 years ago. Current South Suburban PADS Director Mike Wasserberg stressed the significance of Brown's contribution at her funeral, saying that PADS might not have existed without her help because of the resistance to serving the homeless two decades ago.

"There was no money when PADS was first organized and Marion volunteered to get the first ‘mattresses’ (pads) for the guests who stayed at the PADS sites," McConnell said. "She was a unique person who believed in helping people who needed assistance."

But Brown's reach and kind spirit extended beyond her involvement with the LWV and PADS.

Brown was a member of and was ordained a deacon in 1995 at the age of 79. That was consistent with her attitude of living life fully and giving care to others.

Beyond that, Brown also attended every meeting and was a "bird dog" when it came to certain issues, according to former LWV President Pat Paulsen.  

"She just wouldn't let go," Paulsen said.

Even those who never went to a service at the First Presbyterian Church in Homewood or any school board, LWV or PADS meeting in their lives may very well have known Brown as the cheerful and conversational cashier at .

In recognition of Brown's rich, full life of service and dedication toward her fellow humans and her lasting legacy through organizations such as PADS, H-F Patch is honored to name Marion Brown as this week's Remarkable Resident.