OBITUARY: Martha Johnson Brown

Martha Johnson Brown died unexpectedly December 17, 2013. She was born October 29, 1929 in Arlington to Philip Reynolds Johnson and Charlotte Stiles Johnson. Martha was the middle child with two brothers. She enjoyed her childhood in Arlington and later the family moved to Greenfield where she graduated from high school in 1947. She went on to graduate from Vesper George Art School in Boston in 1949.

Martha enjoyed several years in merchandising at Jordan Marsh in Boston. During this time, she met Henry Randall Brown of Bar Harbor, ME, at a YWCA dance. They were married in June 1950. They made their home in Bar Harbor, where their two children, Janey and Randy were born.

In 1955 the Browns relocated to Lynnfield.. There Martha raised the children, served with the Friends of the Library, taught Sunday school and contributed to yearly church fairs. She led Cub Scout and Bluebird Dens. She also completed the Famous Artists Cartoon Course in 1963.

Groton became the family home in 1964,. Here the family continued to be Martha's top priority. She worked at Bruce Pharmacy, with Henry. She still found time to serve the community. She was co-founder of Friends of the Library and served on its Executive Board for 12 years. She was also Library Trustee for three years. She volunteered as librarian at the West Groton branch library.

Martha loved editorial cartoons. She had an extensive collection. Several of hers were published in the Public Spirit, in the 1970s. She went on to Join New England Business Services (NEBS) as a graphic artist. She was at NEBS for 20 years.

After Henry miraculously survived an aortic aneurism in 1991, Martha joined Henry in attending The Victory Bible Training Center of Faith Fellowship Ministries. They both graduated on June 27, 1993. Martha was a committed Christian to the end of her life.

Martha helped with fundraisers for the old Nashoba Community Hospital and Rotary International. She handled publicity and helped with filling the Groton Bicentennial Time Capsule. She also designed the Groton Bicentennial Coin. She also loved Rotary. As soon as women were allowed to join, she was the first woman to join the Groton-Pepperell Club. She was an active member until her death.

During all of this time, she continued supporting her children through high school, college, wedding planning and raising grandchildren.

Martha was predeceased by her husband, Henry Randall Brown, and her older brother, Philip Bradley Johnson. She leaves her daughter, Martha Jane Brown Siddiqui and husband, Saeed of Groton, her son, Henry Randall Brown, Jr., and wife, Betty of Lowell, and younger brother, Joseph Stiles Johnson of Redmond, WA. She also leaves six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, two nephews and three nieces.

Martha was a beloved member of her family and the community and is greatly missed.