Elinor Johnson Brown

Walhalla, SC— Elinor Johnson Brown, 84, gained her Angel wings and departed for a better place on September 24, 2017.  She died peacefully at her home as she had always requested, with her family at her side.  She was born on Coffee Road in Walhalla, SC on January 8, 1933 to the late Martha Irona Hall Johnson and Eugene Garwood Johnson.

 

Elinor is survived by two daughters, Martha Eugenia Brown, MD (Rick Wagner) of Gainesville, FL and Melinda Lou Brown Reece (Keith Williams); grandchildren Schyler Wagner, Mariah Williams, and Joshua Reece; sisters-in-law Julia Ballenger, Melinda Maksymowicz, and Caroline Williams; nephew Gerald Johnson, Jr., MD; niece Joy Ann Chiles; and her wonderful boyfriend of 10 years who she loved to “cut town” with, Alan Dean Boggs. Besides Alan Boggs, she had a special love for Ashley Rogers, her friend and caregiver for many years, as well as Ashley’s family.

 

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Paul Micagah Brown; brother, Eugene Gerald Johnson, and sister, Margaret Ann Johnson Carter.

 

She lived her life caring for and about others.  She had many great friends and cherished all of them.  She was a loving and kind person who gave selflessly to everyone around her.  Additionally, she was a great cook just like her mother. Elinor was a 1950 graduate of Walhalla High School (WHS). She attended Shorter College in Rome, GA for one year, transferring to Furman University where she graduated in 1954 magna cum laude with degrees in Elementary Education and Psychology. She later went on to do some graduate work there. She was an Oconee County School Teacher (teaching both special education and elementary education) for 14 years.

 

For over 50 years, Elinor was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society (International Society for Women Educators), the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She was Secretary-Treasurer of the WHS Class of ’50 Alumni Group and was a permanent member of the WHS ’50 reunion planning committee, which met often with reunions every 5 years. She was a longtime member of the Paul Hayne Circle for over 35 years.  Elinor was a member of the Walhalla First Baptist Church and the Fellowship Sunday School Class (where she served as the secretary of the Tuesday Morning Round Table.) However, above all, she was a fighter and a cancer survivor for almost 50 years. She was grateful to the GHS Cancer Institute in Seneca and their staff, particularly Dr. Jeffrey Giguere.

 

A celebration of her life will be held at Walhalla First Baptist Church on Saturday, September 30, 2017, at 11:00 AM with burial to follow at West View Cemetery.

 

The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 PM, Friday, September 29, 2017, at Davenport Funeral Home.

 

Memorials can be made to Tamassee DAR School, PO Box 8, Tamassee, SC 29686 or Walhalla First Baptist Church, 403 East Main St., Walhalla, SC 29691.