Mary Elladee Haywood Brown

Mrs. Mary Elladee “Dee” Haywood Brown, 83, left her bags and her lifelong travel partner, Barry, to embark on her final journey on Monday, August 30, 2021. Born January 19, 1938, in Lumberton, to the late Ralph and Ruby Haywood, she graduated from Radford University in 1960 and later received her master’s degree from Hollins University. She spent most of her life in Roanoke, VA, where she taught thousands of children in Roanoke City Public Schools for 22 years. She also taught for fourteen years as an arts education instructor at Roanoke College and five years as a teacher at E.C. Glass High School, her alma mater, in Lynchburg, VA. She was named Virginia Elementary Art Educator of the Year in 1996, as well as Southwest Virginia Elementary Art Educator of the Year, and represented the commonwealth at the National Art Education Association Convention. When she won the award, her fellow teachers told The Roanoke Times she was “a bright spot” and “almost irreplaceable.” Her love of art led her across the world, where she and Barry explored different art museums. They also vacationed in Hilton Head Island multiple times a year, riding bikes and looking for seashells, upon her retirement in 2001. She passed her love of art to her family, friends, and students, who will remember her with every hand-painted “Dee original” adorning the walls of their homes and every Van Gogh painting they see. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, John C. Haywood of Charlotte; and her sister, Glenda H. Minnick of Bedford, VA. She was loved and will be missed by her husband of 61 years, Barry F. Brown of Mount Airy, NC; and her daughters, Beth Pequeño (Peter) of Mount Airy, NC, and Carrie Walton (Bobby) of Wirtz, VA. She is also survived by her granddaughters Sara Pequeño, Emma Pequeño, and Elodie Walton; her brother, Frederick Haywood (Sally) of Oak Ridge, TN; and eight nieces and nephews. She was a member of Windsor Hills United Methodist Church in Roanoke, but a private family service will be held at an undetermined date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a children’s art program of your choice. Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the family.