Idelma Brown, mother of Great St. Stephen Pastor Debra Morton, dies

Mrs. Idelma Jasmine “Marie” Brown, a professional cook and house manager, died on Thursday, March 6, 2014, at the age of 80.

Born on October 25, 1933 in Vacherie, La., to the late Annie Mae & Arthur Jasmine, Mrs. Brown was a resident of New Orleans, La., for 64 years. She served as a professional cook at Joe’s Diner Riverfront and later as a house manager for Dr. and Mrs. Charles Steck until her retirement.

She was first married to the late Leonard Brown Sr. and is the mother of Pastor Debra Brown Morton, Senior Pastor of Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church, Leonard Brown, Jr and Stephanie Louise Brown. She was also married, later in her life, to Mr. Earl Dent.

She is survived by her three children, Debra Brown Morton (Paul), Leonard Brown Jr., (Alicia) and Stephanie L. Brown; eight grandchildren, Jasmine M. Ross (Elvin), L. Jamaal Brown, Paul S. Morton Jr. (Kortni), Kamil Brown, Jaren Brown, Christiann M. Williams (Julian) Jawarra Brown, and Precoia Parlow; nine great-grandchildren; and a brother, Arthur Jasmine (Clementine).

She was preceded in death by her five sisters, Rose Antoine (Bernard), Elizabeth Williams (Jake), Ruby Washington (George), Willie Mae Thomas (Ernest) (Tommie), and Josie Pierre (Edward) and a great-granddaughter, Kai L’ani Ross.

“People loved my mother’s stuffed peppers and she knew it! She was a great cook; it was her passion. Family, both natural and spiritual, was the joy of her life,” says Pastor Debra Morton.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, March 13, 2014, at Greater St. Stephen on Read Boulevard. Interment was at Lake Lawn Cemetery. Arrangements by D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home.

This article originally published in the March 17, 2014 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.