Dec. 31, 1934 – Aug. 21, 2013

NATCHEZ — Mary Brown Nowell Kaiser, 78, died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013, at her residence with her family at her side.

In lieu of a funeral service, an opening prayer will be at noon today. The family will receive guests until 2 p.m. in the sanctuary at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Kaiser was born Dec. 31, 1934, in Philadelphia, the daughter of Perry Brown Nowell and Mary Morrow Nowell. The family is listed in a first edition of the Pedens of America, a summary of the Peden, Alexander, Morton, Morrow and an outline history of the ancestry and descendants of John Peden and Margaret McDill Scotland, Ireland and America. 1768-1900.

During high school, she served as president of her senior class, as homecoming queen and played trumpet in the high school band. She graduated high school in 1952. In 1954, she was chosen Miss Philadelphia.

Mary Brown was a graduate of Mississippi Southern (University of Southern Mississippi.) She was a proud member and president of Delta Delta Delta Sorority and a member of the original Dixie Darling drill team. She also played in the University Philharmonic Marching Band. She was inducted into the Southern Mississippi Hall of Fame.

After college graduation, she was employed by Florida Power & Light Company in Miami, as a home economist for three years. She married Edward Maxwell “Bubber” Kaiser of Natchez. She became an active member of Jefferson Street United Methodist Church and was a member of the Greer Sunday School Class.

As a community leader, she was a member and president of the Natchez Junior Auxiliary. During her tenure, the chapter was recognized as the Most Outstanding Chapter in Mississippi. She also taught junior high school science at Trinity Episcopal Day School. After having held major chairmanships in the Natchez Garden Club, she became president for two years. Subsequently, she was designated a life membership.

Mrs. Kaiser enjoyed leisure time playing tennis in the Natchez Tennis League, rose gardening in the Rosecraft Society. She also enjoyed being a tour guide for the City of Natchez, Jazzercise and cooking. Mary Brown was supported in her activities by her loyal husband, Bubber.

Her beloved sons, Kim Kaigler Kaiser and Kerry Patrick Kaiser, enjoyed her devotion and dedication to their many athletic and school activities. Her extraordinary efforts as a member and chairmanship of Trinity Episcopal Day School Athletic Association on behalf of her sons, resulted in remarkable benefits for Trinity athletics and for the school.

Mrs. Kaiser was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Dr. Richard M. Nowell of Jackson.

Survivors include her husband; two sons; two nephews, Ric Nowell and John Nowell, both of Jackson; and a number of cousins.

The family wishes to express special appreciation to Whitney Dollar whose afternoon walks and talks were always anticipated and cherished. A special thanks to Tanna and Vidal Davis and Dr. Ed Daly and his dedicated staff during her illness. The family would also like to thank Gloria Jackson for all her years of dedicated service. Mary Brown loved all the friends with whom she shared her life.

She suffered with dignity and frequent humor from her illness, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) from which there is no treatment or cure. In a final act of unselfishness, Mary Brown has donated her body to science for the study of eventual eradication of this cruel disease. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers through the www.psp.org or to a charity of choice.