Obituary of Vivian Ruffin Brown

Vivian R. “Bea” Brown, 102, of Freehold died Sunday, July 1, 2007 at home. Mrs. Brown, the eldest daughter of Samuel and Nancy Green Ruffin, was born on March 22, 1905 in Louisburg, N.C. and had moved to Freehold when she was 14 years old. She was a former member of the Second Baptist Church, Freehold and the Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Brown attended the Court Street School. Mrs. Brown was a sergeant in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution where she was employed form 1963 to 1973. Prior to that she was employed at the W.T. Grant Store in Freehold and by the Vanderveer family in Freehold. She was an avid crocheter and antique collector. Her husband, Ernest Brown, Sr. died in 1960. She was also predeceased her children, Leonard Brown, Ernest Brown, Lawrence Brown, Anne Mott, Harold Robert Brown, and Patricia Brown. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Joseph R. and Constance Brown, Howell Township; a brother, Stewart Ruffin, New York City, N.Y.; a sister, Geraldine Williams, Freehold; 16 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and five great great grandchildren. The viewing will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Friday at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold.