Obituary from Holman Funeral Home of Ozark – Ozark, Alabama
Mrs. Mary Ellen Benefield Brown, a resident of Ozark, passed away early Friday morning, September 4, 2026, at her home. She was 85 years old.
A memorial service for Mrs. Brown will be held 2:00 P.M. Thursday, September 10, 2026, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with her grandson, Ben Ward, officiating. Interment will be in Fort Mitchell National Veterans Cemetery, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ozark Thursday from 1:00 P. M. until service time.
Mrs. Brown was born March 21, 1941 in Barbour County, Alabama to the late Robert Bennett Benefield and Mary Frances White Benefield. She attended Eufaula High School and moved to Ozark in 1963. Mrs. Brown worked as a seamstress with Judy Bond Manufacturing in Ozark for over twenty years. Later she was employed for over thirty years with Michelin Tire Company in Midland City in Quality Control until her retirement. She enjoyed sewing, adventures and travels with her husband. Mary Ellen adored her children and grandchildren, always putting their needs first whether sewing clothes or cooking their favorite meal. She loved square dancing! In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Billy Ross “Bill” Brown; three brothers, John Robert Benefield, Billy Charles Benefield and James Reid Benefield; one brother-in-law, Bodie Herring.
Survivors include two daughters, Patricie “Ellen” Macri (Tony) of Midland City and Donna Webb of Ozark; three sons, Bennett Ward of Dothan, Kenny Greathouse (Donnie Chandler) of Wicksburg and Nick Brown (Heather) of San Diego, California; two sisters, Jackie Herring of Eufaula and Sheila Nolin (Sammy) of Eufaula. Nine grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews also survive.
In addition to flowers, memorials may be made in her memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517; or to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, New York 10306.
Condolences may be expressed at www.HolmanFuneralHome.com
