Dawn Lenora Manns-Brown was called home by her Heavenly Father on July 17, 2021, at the age of 61 at her home in Howell, N.J. She was born on August 6, 1959, in Radford to Charles and Caroline Manns of New River, Va.
Dawn has deeply established roots in the New River Valley, Roanoke Valley, and Richmond.. She spent the last 10 years of her life in Howell, N.J., where she had come to embrace the church family of Pilgrim Baptist Church in Red Bank, N.J., as her own. Dawn found Christ at an early age, accepting the Lord and Savior into her life by joining First Missionary Baptist Church in New River, where she remained a lifelong member.
Upon graduation from Pulaski County High School, Dawn went on to Ferrum College and completed her education at Virginia Commonwealth University. The years spent at these institutions provided her with many lifelong friends whose friendships she cherished.
Dawn lived a life full of compassion, empathy, care, and service to others. The highest testament to the ideals in which she lived her life would be the time she dedicated to raising “her boys.” Until her final days, if someone asked her what she did for a living, she would be happy to report that she was “a stay-at-home mom taking care of her 32- and 26-year-old sons”.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Christine Manns; her paternal grandparents, James and Hattie Manns; and her maternal grandparents, Ray and Regina Lewis.
She leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband of 34 years, Anthony Brown; two sons whom she adored, Luther “Maxwell” (Cody) Brown of Blacksburg and Clayton Brown of Howell, N.J.; her parents, Charles and Caroline Manns of New River; siblings Charlene Horne of Vienna, Va., Charles Manns, Jr. of Alexandria, Va., And Donald Manns of New River; her mother-in-law, Kate Brown of Powhatan, Va.; and a special sister-in-law, Donna Shabazz, of Radford, Va. Also left to rejoice in the memories of her life well spent are a host of loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services were held at First Missionary Baptist Church, 7318 Manns Dr., New River, VA 24129 on Sat., July 24, 2021 with the Rev. Montie Brown officiating. Interment was at the New River Cemetery, and repass was at the First Missionary Baptist Church directly following services.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Dawn’s memory to METAvivor – Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness, Research and Support.
The Manns-Brown family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford. www.mullinsfuneralhome.com
