10/31/2026
Helen Joy Brown
Helen Joy Brown, age 99, passed away peacefully in the presence of family on Oct 28, 2026. Mrs. Brown grew up in Roanoke Rapids, NC and graduated from Flora MacDonald College in 1949. She started her teaching career at Thornwell Home for Children in South Carolina. After marrying the love of her life, Mr. Henry Dockery Brown III, she travelled with him to Italy during his time in the US Navy. She taught Math and Science at the NATO schools in Naples.
After returning to the United States, the Browns started their family and moved from Georgia to Pennsylvania. Helen was active in the Riverview Presbyterian Church in Drexel Hill with the Women’s Circle. Beyond the many duties of raising a large family, she and her husband made time to enjoy educational opportunities by going to lectures at places like Drexel University. They also were avid antique (bargain) hunters and often went to the Italian Market on Saturdays while trying to keep track of six kids through the crowded South Philadelphia streets.
In 1970 the family moved to Lowell, Massachusetts. They joined the Eliot Presbyterian Church. Helen served in many leadership roles, including Elder, over the years. In the 1980s the Browns embraced the opportunity through the church to lend aid and advice to many Cambodian refugees trying to adjust to their new homeland. Having a fledgling real estate rental business, they were able to help with housing either directly or through referrals. They also enjoyed taking guests, often large extended families, to some of the local attractions like museums, the circus and the coast and learning about their culture along the way.
Helen and her husband were involved in the Merrimack Valley Housing Project and the Greater Lowell Landlords Association. One of the highlights of the holiday season for her was helping with hosting and decorations at the yearly Association meeting.
After raising her family, she restarted her teaching career in the early 1980s at Keith Academy in Lowell and subsequently Presentation of Mary Academy in Methuen. She always appreciated her students greeting her even decades later while shopping at Market Basket.
After her husband’s passing, Helen continued to run the real estate business with the help of some trusted and valued independent contractors, insurance agents, and property managers along with family. She enjoyed talking with tenants about their lives and families and counted many as friends. She took pride in keeping the books herself up until the time she went into assisted living. She appreciated being able to interact with Lowell’s Community Teamwork either to help coordinate rental placements or to advocate for one of her tenants if they needed services.
Helen Brown is preceded in death by her husband Mr. Henry Dockery Brown III; her parents Mr. and Mrs. Ralph G. Knight; in-laws the Rev Dr. and Mrs, Henry Dockery Brown Jr; siblings and in-laws Mr. and Mrs. Ralph G. Knight, Jr, Mr. and Mrs. James Smith, Mr. Kenneth Mack Knight, Mr. Donald R. Knight, Mrs. Ellen Finch Pettus and nephew Mr. Mack R. Knight.
She is survived by her children and in-laws Barbara Brown, Marcia Maxfield (John Reguera), Bonnie Finneran (John), Henry Brown IV, David Brown, Donna Mendonca (Paul), nieces and nephews Lucia King (Roy Cothran), Paul Knight (Claudia), Raymond H. Knight (Raquel Robledo), Glenn A. Knight (Amy), Maria Knight; her grandchildren Heather Wen Maxfield (Crane); Neil Maxifield; Lisa Finneran; Diane Finneran (Joe Migeed); Christine Finneran; Michelle Finneran; Cesar Mendonca; and Yulan Mendonca. There are also cherished great grandchildren, Aiden and Violet Maxfield, and many great nieces and nephews.
Services will be private with a Memorial Service at the Eliot Presbyterian Church in Lowell Ma to be announced in the spring.
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