Marlene Clapp Brown (Pud)

BEAR CREEK — Marlene Clapp Brown (Pud), 88, of 6924 Airport Rd. in Bear Creek passed Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at UNC Health Chatham. 

She was born June 4, 1936, in Wake County to the late Ben and Josie Wright Clapp of Siler City.

Marlene graduated from Bonlee High School in 1954. She was a member of the Brush Creek Baptist Church, the Bessie Gilbert Sunday School Class former teacher and past church librarian. She was a Spinning Instructor at Ramtex in Ramseur, a Beginning Computer Instructor at CCCC, and served as the first church secretary at Tyson’s Creek Baptist Church. 

Marlene loved reading her Bible and listening to Country Music. Her passion was researching family records on Ancestry and locating and adding information on Find a Grave. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Bobby Gene Brown; her brother, Ben Junior Clapp; a sister, Elaine “Sister” Webster; a son, Lee Brown; and great-grandson, Parker Dixon.

She is survived by her daughters, Karen Zimmerman and husband Allan of Goldston, Donna Sessoms and husband Jackie of Bear Creek; son, Scott Brown and wife Jodie of Goldston; and daughter-in-Law, Linda Brown of Bear Creek. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Christy Dixon and husband Michael, Brandon Brown and wife Nikki, Aaron Brown and wife Anna, Shane Zimmerman and wife Jessica, Jonathan Sessoms and wife Paige, Jeremy Sessoms and wife Hayley, and Felicity Gray; great-grandchildren, Jaxon and Addison Dixon, Madilyn and Clara Brown, Benji, Sage and Lanie Brown, Aiden and Sutton Zimmerman, Charlotte and Hadleigh Sessoms, Annie Blake and Oakley Sessoms; sisters; Norma Jean Josey, Linda Koonce; her sister-in-Law, Sue Perry and husband Charles; as well as several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her special friends Ed, Pud Jordan and Norma Fox, and her beloved Rai Rai. 

A private graveside service will be held at Brush Creek Baptist Church at a later date.

The family will be at the home of Karen and Allan Zimmerman, 1176 Wilson Rd., Goldston, on Friday, July 12, between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers or food, please consider a donation to:

— Brush Creek Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Judy Lane, 45 John Lane Rd., Bear Creek, NC, 27207.

— West Chatham Food Bank, 2535 Old US Hwy 421 N., Siler City, NC, 27344.

A special thank you to her nephew James Webster and the wonderful and compassionate nurses and care team at Chatham Hospital. Mama would have been so proud of each of them.

Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Brown family.

Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh.com.