Gertrude was born July 2, 1937, to Luther and Louisa (Garth) Davis in Earle, Arkansas. The evening of Monday, July 4, 2022, God sent an angel to Gertrude's bedside, spread its wings, and they flew away to her eternal resting place. Well done good and faithful servant!

Gertrude accepted God as her savior and was baptized at an early age. Her family moved from Hayti, Missouri to Lansing in 1957 where they joined Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Gertrude served as a driver for the first lady Bertha Graves, as well as, on the usher board, and
the flower guild.

She graduated from Eastern High School with grand plans. She worked as a nurse's aide for Sparrow Hospital and a dairy technician for Michigan State University. On March 6, 1966, Gertrude married Arthur Brown and eight years later they opened Brown's Appliance Sales and Service. The business thrived until illness closed the doors in the early 2000s.

She was always friendly and greeted people with a smile. Gertrude eagerly attended social gatherings at church, family reunions, at her children's events, and in the local community. She enjoyed shopping, making peanut brittle, baking 7-Up cakes, canning vegetables, jellies, and jams, and dressing up in formal attire.

Gertrude was preceded in death by: her father, Luther Davis, Sr.; mother, Louisa Davis; husband of 50 years, Arthur Brown; brothers, Arthur Bridgewater and Napoleon Williams; sisters, Earlene Green and Ida Mae Lloyd; nephews, Eric Davis, Keith Bradley, Reginald Mason, and
Frederick Davis; and nieces, Lisa Davis and Kimberly Lloyd.

Gertrude leaves to cherish her memory: son, Randy L. Brown (Carrie) of East Lansing; daughter, Donneké T. Brown (Lyle) of Lansing; stepson, David Young of Flint; brother, Luther Davis, Jr. (Linda) of Lansing; sisters, Artherine Bradley and, Maxzene Davis of Lansing, Lucy M. Davis, Mildred Porter and Pearline Mason (Ted) of Maryland; grandsons, Malikhi Hoover, Jayce and Julius Brown; granddaughters, Elizabeth Allen, Janae Imel and Reanna Holloway; great-granddaughter, A'aliyah Lotts and Luna Ann Marie Meza; godsons, Leon Stokes of Detroit, Kemofi Brown, Antwain Morris, and Garrett Goddert of Lansing; grandpets, Phedré, Taz and Ares; many adopted sons, and daughters; cousins, nieces, nephews, and a host of other family and friends.

Arrangements for Mrs. Brown are as follows: