Elma Brown

Elma V. Brown, 106 years of age, of Odessa, Texas, died on Friday, January 20, 2023, in Odessa.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, January 27, 2023, at Faith Tabernacle Church, located at 1420 E. 42d street in Odessa, with Janette Fischer of Faith Tabernacle officiating.  Burial will follow at 1:00 PM, at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are by Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home.

Elma was born in Ville Platte in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, to Moise and Lezama Vidrine on December 15, 1916.  She went first to school at Baptist Academy in Acadia Parish, and afterward to Vidrine high school in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana.  She married Clyde P. Brown on June 9, 1934, at Allen Parish Courthouse.  Together with her husband Clyde, Elma worked in various fields of endeavor, including owning and operating community grocery stores, as well as hamburger drive-ins in the Odessa area. Later, and for many years Elma and her husband became remarkably busy in the field of residential construction both in Odessa and in Austin, Texas.

Elma, Clyde and family were strong in their Christian faith and first faithfully attended united Pentecostal Church on Jackson Avenue and then Faith Tabernacle Church, then located south of town and now located at 1420 e. 42d street here in Odessa.

Elma is preceded in death by her husband, Clyde P. Brown; daughter, Elmarine B. Berry; sisters, Hermence Fontenot, and Lena Roach; and by brothers, Howard and Dominique Vidrine.

Elma is survived by her sons, Clyde C. Brown and wife, Dora;  Wyly G. Brown and wife,  Fredna; Willard L. Brown and wife, Nancy; and daughter, Janette Fischer and husband, Erwin.

Elma’s grandchildren, Roy C. Gehrt, Phillip Brown, Linda Brown Easton, Cindy Anderegg, Debi Harris, Tammy Edwards, Wylea Cudd, Chon Brown, Anthione little, Kenneth Brown, Jason Brown, Justin Brown and Heather Denny, Rachel Thigpen, along with fifteen great grandchildren.

Memorial gifts may be given to Faith Tabernacle Church, 1420 e. 42d street, Odessa Texas, 79762. Or to the Gideons international, P. O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN, 37214-0800 for bible distribution.