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2001 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 884
On the death of Mattie Orrie Gaskins Brown.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 16, 2001
Agreed to by the Senate, February 22, 2001

WHEREAS, Mattie Orrie Gaskins Brown was born on October 20, 1893, in a home overlooking the small white house that she lived in for over 50 years along Route 28 in Centreville; and

WHEREAS, although she was an only child herself, she had a large and productive family including 159 descendents spanning six generations including many pastors and many others who have made valuable contributions to their communities; and

WHEREAS, married in 1919, her husband died in 1930, leaving her a single mother at the age of 37; and

WHEREAS, she is survived by her son Harvey, 90; daughter Maggie, 78; 15 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 48 great-great grandchildren and 74 great-great-great grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, at age 70 she took over and raised the eight children of her deceased granddaughter, seven of whom were eight years old or younger; and

WHEREAS, loved by her family, Mattie Brown was known and respected in her community as Centreville’s oldest resident and possibly the oldest person in Fairfax; and

WHEREAS, a devoted and dedicated Christian, Mattie Brown was an active member of the Cub Run Primitive Baptist Church for 65 years, and was considered by many to be the Mother of all other churches in the organization; and

WHEREAS, she baked her famous cakes for “out of town visitors” for the annual Baptist conference held at the local churches; and

WHEREAS, Mattie Brown accompanied her pastor on visits to other Primitive Baptist churches along the East Coast, and rejected a trip to accompany her pastor to visit Georgia churches the week prior to her death, only because she was not feeling well enough; and

WHEREAS, her most recent project was raising funds to have indoor plumbing installed in the Cub Run Primitive Baptist Church, a luxury she was only able to have in her own home in the last 10 years; and

WHEREAS, she was such a busy person in these pursuits that it was almost necessary for family members to set up an appointment to visit her at home; and

WHEREAS, in 1992 Mattie Brown was selected honorary mayor of Centreville at the Centreville Bicentennial, and on October 30, 2000, Mattie Brown was recognized by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors who proclaimed that day to be “Mattie Brown Day”; and

WHEREAS, Mattie Brown died November 4, 2000, at the age of 107 at her home in Centreville; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of an outstanding Virginian, Mattie Orrie Gaskins Brown; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Mattie Orrie Gaskins Brown as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for her memory.