Mrs. Ida Mae Cato Brown was born on March 20, 1936, in Florence, SC, to the late Joseph and Marie Cato. She departed this earthly life on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Ida Mae attended the public schools of Florence County. Mrs. Brown was employed at McLeod Hospital. She later found her passion in caring for kids. She opened her business Brown's Daycare of 37 plus years. Brown's daycare was a trusted home-based center that cared for countless children over the years and faithfully served the community. She poured genuine love into every child, nurturing them from the heart.

At an early age, she was baptized and joined Elizabeth Baptist Church. There she served on the Senior Choir, B.E.O., Missionary Circle II, Willing Workers, and Trustee Wives Ministry until her health declined. Ida Mae was united in holy matrimony on November 10, 1956, to Neil Brown. This union was blessed with four children.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her late husband of 63 years Neil Brown; one brother William Cato; one sister Viola Cato Bass; two daughters Janice McKenney and Dia Ann Brown; One grandson Deshay Muldrow.

Those left to cherish her loving memories are our: one son, Leo (Tina) Brown; one daughter Rosa Brown; six grandchildren, Richard Brown, Rashawn Brown, Gail Brown, Lanaiya McKenney, Shakeylia McAllister and ShaReka (Eric) Robinson; two honorary grandchildren Mary Keith McClam and Tia Gordon; 14 grandchildren; five sisters, Rosa Garland, Annie Kelly, Mary Ann Johnson, Ella Mae (Rayford) Cain, and Evangelist Annie Bell WIndham all of Florence, South Carolina; one sister-in-law Ivory Gillespie of New York City; one godchild Marla D. Young of Atlanta GA; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family is receiving friends at 411 S. Fifth Street, Florence.