Gloria Lee (Benson) Brown was born on December 19, 1929, in Coleman, Texas. She passed away peacefully on April 5, 2026. 

Our beloved Gloria Lee (Benson) Brown was born to the late Joseph D. Benson and Edna Earl (Hammond) Payne. The family moved and resided in Brownwood, Texas, where she and her younger sister Martha attended school at the St. Mary’s Catholic School. After the divorce of her parents, her mother Edna found work in Coleman and moved her family from Brownwood. Her mother worked several years in Coleman and established a home for her children. In the years that followed, she met Robert “Bob” Payne, whom she later married. To this union five children were born: Betty (Payne) Nash, Curtis A. Payne, the twins Cordie Dell Payne and Frankie Dell (Payne) Thompson and Patricia (Payne) Bonell.

Gloria attended Humphrey High School in Coleman, Tx. This was a segregated   High School until 1965. 

In 1946 she met and married Billie Bell II.  Years later after their divorce, she met and married Edward T. Brown, known to many as “Dusty.”

Gloria accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age. She attended Mount Calvary Church of God in Christ and later joined True Vine Baptist Church and became a devout servant leader and Sunday School teacher. She enjoyed teaching the youth on Sundays as well as being a member of the church choir. She raised her children in the church and assured that all were baptized. 

After earning her Nurse’s Aide certificate, Gloria poured her heart into caring for the residents of Leisure Lodge Nursing Home. In 1970 she secured a position with the Texas Youth Counsel in Brownwood, Texas and worked there until an on-the-job injury. She later served several families in Coleman, caring for their homes through cooking, cleaning, and tending to their everyday household needs with dedication and love. 

Gloria had a deep passion for cooking and baking, and her talent in the kitchen was a true gift to all who enjoyed her meals. She loved cooking “soul food” 

which she learned from her mother and her late Aunt Ida. Whether at work or home, she was always providing comfort, often in the form of a delicious, homemade meal. She was a talented seamstress, known for her precision, creativity, and flawless handiwork. Her sewing was more than a skill; it was an act of love, stitched into every garment she made. She also enjoyed knitting, word search, crossword puzzles, and could grow so many various types of fruits and vegetables. She loved gardening, in which she had a “Green Thumb, ” and grew plants and flowers. Her flower gardens were widely admired by neighbors and passersby, including the large Elephant Ear plants that grew along the back porch. She enjoyed watching family-oriented movies, sitcoms, and westerns. Her favorite soap operas were “The Young and the Restless,” and “Days of Our Lives.”

Gloria was deeply committed to improving the lives of those around her. She worked tirelessly to bring essential services to her neighborhood, including gathering signatures to have streets paved and helping the community secure the installation of mailboxes on public streets. Gloria was also an active member of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People; where she worked alongside others to uplift and advocate for her community.

She enjoyed listening to music; and Mahalia Jackson was her favorite Gospel singer, but she also enjoyed listening to many others as well. Gloria had a loving and giving personality and was so selfless; always putting the needs, well-being, or happiness of others before her own. She never met a stranger, and no one ever left her presence without feeling special.

Gloria cherished every moment she had with her family and was very proud of them. She always looked to inspire the young ones to be their best and strive to excel beyond the elders. 

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Effie Hall, son Ivan Brown, granddaughter Monika Wilmes, and sisters Martha Benson, Betty Nash and Cordie Payne.

Those left to cherish her precious memories include her children: Ethileen Jones (William) of Abilene, Tx, Edna White of Dallas, Tx, Billie Bell III of Abilene, Tx, Gloria Ridgway of Abilene, Tx, Jorma Wilmes of Austin, Tx, Jasmine Parker of Irving, Tx , Holley Brown-Carr (Wayne) of Frisco, Tx.; grandchildren: Retna Rogers (Rick), Malvon Brown III(Alda), Arvid Brown(Omiko), Drafonzo Hall Bell(Tamika),Denise Bell-E.(Martin), Lawanda Lewis-Richmond, Ahmad Bell, Jennifer Jones, Billie Bell IV, Taryn Wilmes, Desmond Hall(Ivery), Jarrett Moore, Michael Allen Bell , Joshua Bell, Halley Carr and Hannah Carr;  Thirty-seven great- grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren; her beloved siblings: brother Curtis A. Payne and sisters Frankie D. Thompson and Patricia Bonell.  A host of nieces and nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews and many cousins, relatives and friends.

The family will host visitation and wake from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday, April 17, 2026, at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 W. Pecan Street, in Coleman. A funeral service celebrating her remarkable life will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Concho Baptist Church, 1700 S. Concho Street, in Coleman. Interment will follow in the Coleman City Cemetery. Services are entrusted to Stevens Funeral Home in Coleman.

We invite you to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with the Brown family by signing the guestbook on Gloria’s tribute page at www.stevensfuneralhome.com. Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Brown family.