Mary Ellen Brown, 65, of Thomasville, died Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008, at Moore Regional Hospital, Pinehurst.

A celebration of life service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at First Baptist Church, Thomasville, with the Rev. Bynum Orr and the Rev. Jon Strother officiating. Interment followed in Mount Carmel United Methodist Church Cemetery, Carthage.

Mrs. Brown was born Aug. 18, 1942, in Gaffney, S.C., a daughter of the late Wilbert and Lennie Martin Hammett. She lived in the Thomasville area for the past 43 years, and was a former 20-year employee of Alderman Studios. She married Ralph O. Brown on Sept. 22, 1961. She worked for four years with PBM Graphics, and owned Mary Brown Graphics for 10 years prior to her retirement.

She was a member of First Baptist Church, Thomasville, where she was a member of the Truth Seekers Sunday school class, and was a past president of the Ladies Golf Association of Holly Ridge Golf Club. Mrs. Brown enjoyed traveling, golf, reading and spending time with her family.

In addition to her paretns, she was preceded in death by a sister, Marjorie H. Padgett.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Anita Brown Elks and her husband, Dempsey, of Chapel Hill; a son, Greg Brown and his wife, Cathe, of Alexandria, Va.; two sisters, Billie Welch and her husband, Hobert, and Annie Ruppe and her husband, Marshall, all of Charlotte; four brothers, Glenn Hammett and his wife Lillie, Maynard Hammett and his wife, Madeline, and Robert Hammett and his wife, Brenda, all of Gaffney, S.C., and Forrest Hammett and his wife, Katie, of Piedmont, S.C.; a brother-in-law, Gus Padgett, of Thomasville; and a granddaughter, Christine Brown.

Memorials may be sent to either Hospice of Davidson County, 524 S. State Street, Lexington, NC 27292, or to First Baptist Church, 8 Cramer Street, Thomasville, NC 27360.

Condolences may be made at www.jcgreenandsons.com.

J.C. Green & Sons Funeral Home, Thomasville, is assisting the family.