Verdeaner M (Smith) Brown

Verdeaner Marie Smith Brown was born March 19, 1941, the second of eleven children to the late James
and Elmore Lee King Smith in Deeson, Mississippi. Verdena was preceded in death by five of her
siblings: Roosevelt Smith, Merlene Campbell, Ras James Smith, Tommy Smith, Roy Lee Smith, and R.C.
Smith. She was a proud mighty Trojan during her attendance at East Side High School in Cleveland, MS.

Verdeaner was married to Albert “A.C.” Brown, Sr. and to their union they raised three strapping boys:
Fredrick (Leeann), Setoria, and she has now joined her son Albert, who preceded her in death. In
addition to her love for family, Verdeaner had an intense passion for fashion. Her creativity coupled with
her unmatched talent as a seamstress yielded the groundbreaking Innovative Fashions House.
Verdeaner’s unique approach to incorporating cutting edge fashion concepts with a myriad of textures,
colors, and patterns influenced generations of men and women, and many of her creations are still circulated decades later. Along with her sister Katherine, Verdeaner recruited any member of the family willing to strut the runway in her many fashion shows to showcase her exquisite work. Stepping into Verdeaner’s workshop was like stepping into another world where one could get lost in creative musings,
textiles, fabrics, notions, and of course her trusty serger.

Although Verdeaner exhibited a very soft spoken, demure beauty; she made it clear to her loving sons that
she wanted her homegoing to be a celebration. She lived her life in vivid color and will be celebrated in
the same fashion (pun intended). As we remember that beautiful smile and loving spirit, we will
continue to celebrate her life through our deeds, our lives, and our endeavors.

In addition to her two sons, Verdeaner leaves to celebrate her memory four sisters: Katherine Thomas,
Maggie Johnson, Elmore Wince (Johnny), Mary Smith; two brothers Peter Smith and Jesse Brown; nine
grandchildren Kenyatta Johnson, Farae Wolfe, Rasheeda Whitfield, Kazondria Blockett, Senyetta
Peterson (Cordero), Albert Brown, III, Charles Brown, Fredricka Brown, Fredrick Austin Brown, II; three
great grandchildren Tyler Rivera, Ashlee Bankston, and Erynn Bankston; and a host of nieces, nephews,
friends, and loved ones.