Feb. 4, 1932 – Feb. 9, 2017

MURFREESBORO – Shirley Ann Graham Brown, the daughter of Mary Hollingsworth Russell and Milton Alonza Graham, grew up in Windsor, NC and attended Windsor High School. She was active in all school activities and interested in basketball, theatrics, and was an A+ student.

After graduation, Shirley, an Episcopalian, decided to attend Meredith College and major in home economics. Shirley loved Meredith and Raleigh. She was an accomplished student, involved in many extracurricular activities including drama and the equestrian program.

While attending a UNC football weekend as a guest of a Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity brother, she met Bynum Rhodes Brown from Murfreesboro, NC. Bynum tried to get a late date, but no deal. Bynum called the next week and from there began a wonderful life long relationship. Bynum and Shirley were married July 30, 1955 in Windsor, NC.

Shirley taught in the Murfreesboro Public School System and in Franklin, VA. Her wonderful daughter, Grace, was born in 1961 in Ahoskie, NC. Shirley in 1970 decided to stay home and enjoy her daughter.

Grace left home in 1979 to attend St. Mary’s High School in Raleigh. Shirley decided she needed something to do, therefore, she got more involved in her husband’s Insurance and Real Estate businesses. This required her to begin a new education program of Insurance and Real Estate. The fact that her daughter, Grace, had recently enrolled at the University of North Carolina made it much more attractive for her to begin classes at Chapel Hill. Grace and Shirley had lots of fun as mother and daughter students.

In 1982, Shirley received her Insurance Broker license and also her Real Estate license. She returned the following year for her GRI designation. At this time Bynum was remodeling an old Main Street, Murfreesboro home to use for her office.

Shirley was a member of the North Carolina Association of Professional Insurance Agents, a member of the North Carolina Association of Realtors. Later she became a state certified residential appraiser and she was a member of the North Carolina National Association of Real Estate Appraisers.

Shirley later decided that in order to properly market historic and high value homes she needed a national affiliation with a company that specialized in rural and small town properties. After a lengthy search, she determined that United Country was the company to be associated with nationally. They in turn invited her and Bynum to Kansas City for a week of school and fun.

Shirley, a hard working lady, enjoyed a very successful business career. She was as nice at home as she was to her customers. Blessed with a lot of charm and patience—great ability and with an unbelievable work ethic, Shirley was a wonderful and loving wife and mother. She was a great business person and will be missed by all that knew her—most of all her family.

She was predeceased in death by her sister, Lillian White and her husband Joe White of Elizabeth City. She is survived by nieces, Mary Jo Worrell and Leta Anderson, and a nephew, Lorimer Judson White and their families, along with Grace Brown Boone and Dr. Woodie Boone of Raleigh, NC.

Shirley was a great homemaker along with being a successful business lady. She entertained frequently in the early years and always at Thanksgiving and Christmas for over 50 years. Shirley was truly a remarkable person and a wonderful wife and mother. May God go and be with her forever. We have lost a jewel.

Memorial contributions may be made to Chowan University, ATTN: Office of Development, One University Place, Murfreesboro, NC 27855, or a charity of your choice.