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Funeral services for Irene Shields Godfrey Brown of Natchez will be held at the First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, December 3, 2023, with the Reverend Dr. Joan Gandy officiating. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Stratton Chapel with services at 2 p.m. at the church. Burial will follow in the family plot at the Natchez Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Born November 14, 1949, in Natchez, to Irene Bisland Shields and William Edward Godfrey II, she graduated from Natchez High School in 1967 and attended Louisiana State University where she pledged Kappa Delta sorority. She married her husband, Larry Lynn “Butch” Brown March 25, 1972.

An active member of the First Presbyterian Church, Shields served as an elder. She served for many years on the Board of the Natchez Cemetery Association and the Natchez Garden Club. She was a member of the Historic Natchez Foundation and was a director of the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race in its founding years.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Larry Lynn “Butch” Brown, her children, Coyle Sessions Brown and Caroline Shields Brown, and her brother, William Edward Godfrey III. She is survived by her grandsons Sessions Hite Brown and Shields Hutchison Brown of Nashville, Tennessee; her stepson Larry L. Brown Jr., his wife Mattie, and children, Ansley Elizabeth Brown of Houston, TX, Larry L. Brown III, William Barrett Brown, and Caston Coyle Brown, all of Natchez; her brother the Rev. Samuel Bisland Godfrey, and his wife Patty, of Vicksburg; her nephews William Edward Godfrey IV of Jackson and Samuel Russell Godfrey of Los Angeles, CA; sister-in-law Laura Breland Godfrey of Natchez; special cousin, Ralph B. Shields of Vidalia; and special friend, Sasha Trimble Brown of Houston; and a host of relatives and friends.

Pallbearers are R. Wayne Bryant-Canon, Beau Deshotel, Will Godfrey, Robb Gray, Ross McGehee, Brian Rutledge, Colin Seibert, and Benjamin Shields. Honorary pallbearers are Walter Brown, Stratton Bull, Lyman Aldrich, Jim Codell, Willie Huff, Lee Jones, Robin Punches, Everette Ratcliffe, J.W. Seibert III, Ralph B. Shields III, and Dr. Terrel Williams.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Natchez, Pastor’s Discretionary Fund, 400 State St, Natchez, MS, the Natchez Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 1738, Natchez MS, or a charity of your choice.