Juanita K Brown

Juanita Katherlyn Martin, affectionately known as “Chi-Chi”, was born on July 9, 1948 to the late John and Mamie O'Neal Martin of Jenkinsville, South Carolina. She peacefully departed from us on July 5, 2022. After graduating from McCrorey Liston High School “Chi-Chi” moved to Washington DC in 1973 where she met the love of her life Charles Brown. They married in 1976 and had a beautiful marriage of 46 years, sharing a son and a daughter between them.

She worked for the National Cleaners before starting her career with the federal government, Smithsonian Institute for 25 years while working part-time at the Capitol Hill Club for 7 years. “Chi-Chi” had an unmatched work ethic. Not only did she work hard she played hard never was there a dull moment. She filled her leisure time with faith, family and friends. She enjoyed cruises, road trips, day trips, her favorite TV shows (Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud, Judge Judy) and her daily devotionals. “Chi-Chi” valued spending time with and cooking for her family. She was an amazing cook. After retiring in 2014 she continued to do all the things that she loved, minus the work. Whether it was a Sunday dinner, 4th of July celebration, or the grandiose New Year's Eve party, “Chi-Chi” was the life of the party. Well-known and well-loved by all, “Chi-Chi” was generous to a fault. Her unconditional love and sincere concern to help other people she attributed to her southern upbringing. She was the Queen of giving nicknames, never knowing what she may call you; but if she really liked you, she called you “Cooter Roo”.

She leaves to cherish her husband, Charles Brown. Her children, Drexel A. Martin and wife Tammy Martin, of Blair SC, LaKisha A. Person and husband Chris Person of Hyattsville MD; 5 grandchildren, Britney, DeShawn, Tiffany, Daniel and Ashley; and one great-granddaughter Talayah; 3 sisters Alberta (Pat) Broughton and Janie (Mae) Budget of Kansas City, MO and Barbara Cook of Blair, SC; Sister-in-law Teresa Volel, brother-in-law Francis (Junior) Brown and wife Betty of Hyattsville, MD, brother-in-law Cecil Brown and wife Adrian of Dale City, VA, sister-in-law Wendy Martin of Corpus Christi, TX, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. Siblings preceded in her death: John Wesley Jr, Howard, Helen, Roberta, Lonnie, Lionell, Harry, Olivia, Charles, Curtis, and Artist. “Chi-Chi” will truly be missed.

 A celebration of life will take place on Saturday July 16, 2022.  A visitation hour will be at 8:30am and the funeral service will follow at 9:30am at St. Gabriel's Church.  Her final resting place will be at George Washington Cemetery.

Funeral services will be streamed from our facebook page.

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