Obituary
Kem Denise Wilson Brown, a remarkable woman of intelligence, love, and faith, was born on September 26, 1955, at St Joseph Hospital, in Flint, Michigan. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 8, 2023, in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire and motivate generations to come.
Born to Calvin and Loretta (Coleman) Wilson, Kem was a beacon of strength and determination. Her life was a testament to the power of prayer, faith, persistence, and the value of hard work. She was a woman who overcame obstacles and used her life experiences to empower others. She was a motivator, a role model, and an inspiration.
Kem was a loving sister to her brother Terry whom she loved and protected since the day he was born. Kem was not only a devoted mother to her children, Dr. Charis (Kent) Rooks, Martellus (Cassie) Brown, and Marcel (Sharrion) Brown, but she was also a doting grandmother to her grandchildren, Briana, Katelyn, Martellus Jr, Jasmine, Mahkari, Jamari, Kahmari, Calvin, Aiden, Markus II, Teigan and great-grandmother to Xavier. Kem was also a wonderful and loving stepmother to David, Dawn, Dyra, Derrick, Contessa, Dana, and Delano. Her sister, Dana (Dwaine) Price, will remember her for being authentic; showing the love of Christ, and the countless ways she supported others. Her love for her family was an embodiment of pure, unconditional love. She was a pillar of support, a source of wisdom, and the heart of her family.
Kem was a woman of many talents and interests. She began playing the flute in elementary school and played all through college winning several musicianship awards. In the mid-70’s, she was the first runner-up in the Miss Black America Pageant and won the title of “Miss Congeniality”. Kem also broadened her education while attending the University of Michigan. While at the University of Michigan, she became a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., reflecting her commitment to sisterhood, cultural enrichment, and service to all mankind. She also obtained her pilot's license, an achievement that highlighted her adventurous spirit and courage. Above all, she was a loyal friend, always there with a comforting word or a helping hand.
In her professional life, Kem’s first job was at the Fair Department Store in Flint, MI. When Kem went off to college at the University of Michigan she started working summers with her father who was a foreman at General Motors. After college, Kem went on to work full-time at General Motors until she started her first business in the early 80’s. Kem owned a successful trucking company called BT Express Trucking until her retirement in 2007. She also owned Kim’s Imports Christian Bookstore and Gifts, and B&W Gulf Seafood all based out of Flint, MI, Memphis, TN, and Corpus Christi, TX, respectively. Always giving and providing ministry to others, Kim founded Flint Industrial Diesel Tech in her home town, a vocational college that educated, trained, certified, and placed inmates via work release as a second chance program in diesel mechanics. This vocational program helped to aid in inmates’ rehabilitation back into society. Flint Industrial Diesel Tech was a government-approved institution with an 80%-90% placement rate demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen, and her genuine love of helping people no matter what their past decisions and choices may have looked like.
She was not only a successful businesswoman but also a compassionate individual who used her resources to help others. As a philanthropist, she gave financial resources to countless nonprofits, ministries, outreaches, and academic institutions. For many years, she offered her pastoral care in prison outreach, providing hope and guidance to those in need. She also used her gift of evangelism to go out into high-risk crime areas and taught bible studies to children, whose parents may or may not be involved in activities that were contradictory to her faith and belief, yet she never judged them, she only showed love. So much so that many of these parents protected her by telling others when she was around that Ms. Kem was to never be harmed, touched, or messed with in any way when in their neighborhoods teaching their children. Kem also traveled with her best friends Dr. Sharon Webb and Ms. Mary Miller to many conferences, workshops, prayer meetings, and tent revivals, to speak, pray, or support one another as they worked towards fulfilling the purpose God had for their lives. Her work was not just a job; it was a calling, a mission to make the world a better place.
Kem Denise Wilson Brown's life was a journey of faith, courage, and love. She was a woman who lived her life with purpose, who believed in the power of dreams, and who never stopped striving for excellence. She was a woman who loved deeply, worked hard, and served others with compassion and grace.
As we remember Kem, let us not dwell on the sadness of her departure but celebrate the phenomenal life she lived. Let us remember her strength, her wisdom, her love for her family, and her commitment to service. Let us remember her as a woman of faith, a woman of courage, and a woman of love. A woman known for being in a room with multi-millionaires, which she often was, walking the streets with homeless men and women, and having the pure gift to make both sides feel special. In others words no matter your status, finances, or influence you felt the same authentic love and respect from her. This gift is how Kem was able to reach so many.
Kem Denise Wilson Brown, your life was a testament to the power of faith, prayer, strength, love, and the beauty of dreams realized. Your legacy will continue to inspire and motivate us. You will be deeply missed, but your spirit will live on in the lives of those you touched. Your journey may have ended, but your story continues in the hearts of those who knew and loved you.
In honor of her legacy, Mrs. Brown’s family would like memorial donations directed to Life Changing Word Ministries, 3569 McCorkle Road, Memphis, TN, 38116 or PO Box 16430, Memphis, TN 38186.
Visitation for Kem will be Thursday, July 20th from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Milward – Man O’ War located at 1509 Trent Blvd. During the visitation, there will also be an Ivy Beyond the Wall ceremony provided by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. A celebration of Mrs. Brown’s life will begin at 1:00 pm the following day, Friday, July 21st with Dr. Sharon Webb presiding over the service at the funeral home. The interment will be in Lexington Cemetery with a reception afterward from 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm at Milward – Man O’ War.
To share a remembrance of Kem or to offer condolences to her family, please visit milwardfuneral.com to sign the online guest book at the bottom of her obituary page.