In Memory of Margie

Today, I attended the funeral of a very sweet lady huntress whom I looked up to and admired. I first met her when I started hunting at Jasper Bottom Hunting Club on the Big Black River in Claiborne County about 28 years ago.  I was a member for about 25 years until I had to get out because of unforeseen circumstances. Her husband, Bill, worked at Anderson Tully-Lumber Company (ATCO) where my husband, Bob, was Director of Labor Relations for ATCO.  Bill leased the land from (ATCO) to hunt and that is where I got my start in hunting.

The very first time I saw Margerey (Margie) she had on the coolest looking orange hat and I knew I had to get me one just like hers.  I had never met another lady hunter before and it was awesome to see her hunting with her husband, daughters and son, Allen.  Her daughters each had their own deer stands and also her son, Allen.  I hunted off their stands and even had my very on stand as well near the Big Black River.

Margerey, 78, who was well known for her quick wit and dry sense of humor, grew up in her father’s tamale business.  There, at a very young age, she would stand on a stool to dip up, wrap and serve hot tamales.  After graduating from St. Francis Xavier Academy for girls, she met and married the love of her life, Richard “Bill” Brown.  During her 56-year marriage to Bill, while raising three daughters and one son, she was an avid fisher woman and huntress.  Along with her husband, father and children, she traveled extensively for family vacations.  She also enjoyed golfing and attending numerous functions and dances at the Elks Lodge, where she and Bill were members for several years.  She also was a wonderful seamstress and enjoyed making clothing’s for her girls.  In 1993, she opened The Tamale Place, where she drew upon her life experience working for her father.


She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Frederick “Bill” Brown, her father, Henry Howard Sollys; her mother, Hazle Courtney Connerly Sollys; two sisters, Allie Mae Chappel and Stella Naomie Mathis; and a daughter, Rhonda Brown Tuggle.


Survivors include one son, Richard “Allen” Brown (Shiela) of Utica; two daughters, Judy Formby (Alan) of Bossier City, LA, and Brenda Sims (Andy) of Gallman, MS; one sister, Bonnia Knipp of Austin, Texas; 13 grandchildren, Brian Formby, Erin Formby, David Formby, Rachel Sullivan, Cerissa Neal, Daniel Sims, Joel Sims, Paul Sims, Andrea Sims, Matthew Brown, Michael Brown, Kendra Mauldin and Jack Mauldin; 12 great grandchildren, Lyle Formby, Garret Neal, Landon Neal, Sawyer Neal, Shaye Sullivan, Josh Sullivan, Peyton Sims, Olivia Sims, Steel Sims, Bradley Dwiggins, Emmy Hollowell and Blake Hollowell; numerous nieces and nephews; and a longtime friend, Dot Griffin.


Services were held today at 11 a.m. at Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home with Brother Glen Allen officiating.  Burial followed at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery.  


Pallbearers were David Formby, Michael Formby, Matthew Brown, Daniel Sims, Joel Sims and Paul Sims.  


The family would like to extend a special thanks for Dr. Sam Pierce, the staff of Camellia Home Health and Hospice, the staff of Private Home Care and Leigh Ladner for their care and dedication.  


In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorial be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105

A mother, stepmother, grandmother and great grandmother who was taught deer hunting by my second husband, Bob, in my mid-forties. I’m still hunting today and loving it!