Ms. Mary L. Brawner

September 11, 1949 - May 8, 2020

Mary L. Brawner was born on September 11, 1949 in Washington, D.C. and departed this life peacefully on May 8, 2020. Mary also known as Pam, Pammy or Payne received her education in the District of Columbia public school system attending Jefferson Junior High School and Dunbar Senior High School. Mary went onto work at the Hecht Company until she gained employment with the Federal Government working for the Security Exchange Commission where she retired after 30 years of service. Mary loved to travel with her family and friends especially her mother and youngest sister Melody where they frequently visited popular casinos throughout the country. Mary was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan and enjoyed traveling to Texas to see them play. She also took great humor in the back and forth banter with family and friends who were Washington Redskins fans. When their dad passed away, Mary immediately took on the big sister role and assisted Mama in raising her siblings. She loved to tell stories about how some people thought her youngest brothers Gary and Alvin were her children. Family meant everything to Mary, she enjoyed hosting family for the holidays where her roast beef dish was the ultimate family favorite. Mary loved watching classic 1970’s movies especially the ones that starred Pam Grier as well as listening to a few of her favorite artists including but not limited to The Whispers, Ashford and Simpson and Stephine Mills. Although Mary was not blessed with children of her own, she had 50 nieces and nephews to include great and great greats whom she took pride in watching grow. She was present for all special events until she became ill and made sure she told you how proud she was of you while managing to sneakily slip you some monies with a smile. Anyone who knew Mary knew she was a no nonsense, straight shooter, trash talker and down to earth type of woman. She held no punches, told you exactly what and how she felt while maintaining her witty sense of humor. Mary meant so much to so many and we are so blessed to have experienced her love, her laughs, her courage, her humility, her strength and her curse-outs. We will forever be grateful that we shared this time and space with such a beautiful soul. Mary was preceded in death by her mother Mary L. Chase, her Father Leroy Chase Sr., brothers Leroy Chase Jr. and Steven Chase, nephew Ryan Chase, godbrother Jermaine Ward and partner for 30 years George Wilson. She is survived by three sisters, Cynthia Chase, Sharon Chase-Moody (Anthony) and Melody Banks (Tracy), three brothers, Charles Chase, Gary Chase (Dana) and Alvin Chase (Junita), god-sisters Laurie Ward and Elaine Ward, a host of nieces and nephews and long-time friend Pamela Pendleton.