Before there were nine, there was Ethel. I am Gladys Graham, and the woman I want you to meet is my mother — the first child Big Ma ever held, and the beginning of everything that came after her. She carried this branch of the family from Rosedale to the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, and she carried it on faith.

Born on September 9, 1912, my mother, Ethel Brown, was the very first child born to our beloved Magnolia “Big Ma” Robinson. Her story began in Rosedale, Louisiana. At birth, she was given to Mr. Lewis and Lydia Brown, who lovingly raised her. Though she was raised by the Browns, she maintained a deep, enduring connection with her birth mother, Big Ma, and she loved her six sisters and three brothers with all her heart.

Earlier in her life, as a young lady looking toward the future, my mother made the move to New Orleans, Louisiana, eventually putting down her roots and settling in the Lower Ninth Ward. It was there that she truly built her life, anchoring herself in faith and creating a welcoming home that would soon be filled to the brim with life.

My mother was blessed with a wonderfully large and bustling family. She gave birth to eleven children: Edna, Josh, Anniebelle, Oliver, Lottie, Alcee (who we all affectionately call T-man), Irene, Evelina, myself (Gladys), Brenda, and Ernest. She poured her love into each and every one of us, managing a full house with a spirit of grace, hard work, and enduring strength. We were her life’s work, and she never let us forget it.

Her devotion to her family was only matched by her devotion to God. When we settled in the Lower Ninth Ward, our family joined Beulah Land Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor David Spears. My mother was a deeply faithful servant in the church. Over time, her unwavering faith and commitment led her to become a Deaconess. She served out her life in that cherished role, walking gracefully in her faith and setting a spiritual example for all of us, until the Lord called her to her heavenly home on July 3, 1993.

The love my mother cultivated was immense, and her legacy is nothing short of incredible. From her eleven children, her family tree blossomed beautifully into rich layers of generations. Her legacy expanded to include an amazing 49 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, 44 great-great-grandchildren, and an astounding 31 great-great-great-grandchildren!

Ethel Brown loved her family plainly and completely, and anybody who sat with her knew it inside of five minutes. Her life was a powerful testament to endurance, faith, and the unbreakable bond of kinship.

That was our mother: the first baby born to Big Ma, and the one who opened the road for everybody who came behind her. Eleven children, and not one of us was ever made to feel like an afterthought. She is gone, but she has never for one moment been forgotten. We love you, Mama.