Ruth Downs Brown Chapman, transitioned Monday, March 11,2019 in Baltimore,
Maryland. She was born in Florence South Carolina to parents Godfrey and Eliza-
beth Downs. Her two brothers, Herman and Leroy Downs preceded her in death.

Ruth was educated in Baltimore City Public Schools, a proud graduate of Frederick
Douglass Senior High School. In September of 1945, she married the love of her
life, Joseph. H. Brown Jr. From that union were born 4 children, Marcia, Jacqueline,
Francine and Carlton. Marcia preceded both parents in death. The marriage ended
in divorce, and some years later, she married Clarence E. Chapman. From that
union, 3 children were born, Clarence, Donald and Kevin.

Ruth was a domestic, then later became a stay at home mom. When Kevin entered
Kindergarten, Ruth began working for the City of Baltimore as a Day Care Teach-
er's Aide.

She was a founding member of the New Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. She knew the
Lord and faithfully sang on the choir and worked in the kitchen. She took her
children to church and made sure they were properly grounded in the Word. Ruth
served faithfully until her health began to fail.

Ruth was a great cook and avid reader with a warm heart and open home. She had
a distinctive laugh and her personality drew people to her. She was stylish and her
Red Hat title was Foxy Lady. Ruth was a lover of jazz and travel. On Sundays after
Church, she attended Left Bank Jazz events. The highlight of her travel was a
dreamed about trip to Paris and London. She absolutely loved eating lunch on the
second level of the Eiffel Tower and was delighted to stand in front of Buckingham
Palace and watch the changing of the guard.

Ruth is survived by her children, Jacqueline (Harold) Francine, Carlton, Clarence
(Gequetta), Donald, and Kevin (Antoinette), 16 grandchildren, Michaeljohn Frier-
son, Terry Brown-Gibbons, Lynette Nicole Lee, An'Twan Brown, Ashlin McCray,
Clarence Chapman Jr., Donald Chapman, Evelyn Chapman, Sabrina Maxwell,
Walter Chapman, Joy Chapman Smalls, Kevin Chapman Jr., Ashley Chapman,
Tevin Chapman, Azaria Chapman, Bianca Chapman; 21 great grandchildren, Isaiah
Brown, Tanaya McCutcheon, Tafari Brown-Gibbons, Zoe Marshall, Isabella De-
missie, Sage Frierson, Mikaila Frierson, Nazir Brown, Nicky Brown, Symone
Brown, Saniah Brown, Zyiha Chapman, Jaden Chapman, Amidi Chapman, Sabriah
Henson, Taylor Wilson, Amber Bridges, Marcus Smalls, Makaeden Smalls, Malik
Smalls, Masiah Smalls and one niece, Lisa Downs Brown. She also leaves a host of
relatives and friends. Gequetta, her daughter-in-love was Ruth's caregiver. LeRoy
Young Jr. Was a special "Son" to Mom.

Funeral Service will begin @ 10:00 AM

Tuesday, March 26, 2019
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Joseph H. Brown Jr. Funeral Home
2140 N. Fulton Ave
Baltimore, Maryland 21217

Wednesday, March 27, 2019
9:30 AM