Manonia "Nonie" Sellars Brown

Manonia Edwinia Sellars Brown, affectionately known as "Nonie," was born on July 31, 1933, in Jacksonville, Florida, to Willie Mae and Edward Lee Sellars Sr. She was the third of their children, and from the beginning, she embodied strength and determination. With her older sister Julia often in delicate health, Nonie naturally stepped into the role of protector and defender - traits that would define her throughout her life. Baptized at an early age into the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in West Palm Beach, FL, Nonie's faith remained the cornerstone of her life. Her family moved to Apopka, FL in 1945. It was in their family home that her parents, Edward and Willie Mae Sellars, along with Ellen Cobb, Sarah Johnson, and Gertrude Bradley organized the Mt. Olive SDA Church. Her father helped build the original church and served as the First Elder. Nonie was a devoted member of Mt. Olive SDA Church in Apopka, FL, where she strongly supported its mission and programs. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Mt. Olive SDA Church Community Service Department. Nonie had a passion for education and was a dedicated reader and learner. She had the remarkable habit of recording class notes and replaying them while doing chores-a strategy that helped her excel in her studies and reflected her deep commitment to personal growth. She attended Oakwood Academy with her siblings Julia and Edward, graduating in the early 1950s. She went on to pursue nursing, earning her degree from Crouse Irving School of Nursing in Syracuse, NY during the 1950s. She later became a Nurse Anesthetist— a prestigious and demanding field in which she worked for many years in New York State. On March 30, 1958, she married the love of her life, Clifford O'Neal Brown. Soon after getting married, Nonie served as the first Director of Nursing at Dr. Phillips Memorial Hospital, Orlando's first hospital dedicated to serving the Black community during segregation. In order to be easily accessible, she and her husband Cliff lived in a trailer behind the hospital. Nonie used her nursing skills to advocate for any family member needing medical attention. She would go into the hospital, show her credentials, and take charge. She would read their medical charts, question nurses and doctors about their procedures, and care for the patient. She was an avid reader of medical journals and kept herself abreast of the latest techniques in medical care. She grew her own medicinal herbs and cured herself and others of medical conditions, including cancer. Nonie was a bold and fierce protector of her loved ones. She was respected by doctors and nurses because she was well-informed and assertive. Caring for the medical needs of others is where her light shined brightest! After a few years, Nonie and Cliff moved to New York where they were very active members in the Trinity Temple SDA Church in Poughkeepsie, NY for many decades. They especially enjoyed working with youth ministries. They were Pathfinder Leaders and took the Pathfinders [a group like Boy and Girl Scouts on many trips and campouts. Together, they built a life rich in adventure, love, and mutual respect. Their journeys took them across the continental United States where they visited a Seventh-day Adventist church in each state. Over the years, while her husband Cliff, pursued a career in carpentry and masonry, Nonie served as a nurse anesthetist in several hospitals in New York State. In the 1970s they decided to leave their individual careers and work together in the long-distance trucking industry. Nonie was independent with a creative spirit. She had a flair for sewing, often designing and crafting one-of-a-kind matching outfits for herself and Cliff, including a head wrap. She also loved ceramics, delighting in shaping and painting each piece with care. Nonie is remembered not only for her accomplishments, but for her fierce love of God, her integrity, and her wisdom. Her life touched many and her memory will be a source of strength and inspiration to al who knew her. Exactly one week after turning 92 years old, she peacefully took her final breath on August 7, 2025, and now awaits the resurrection call of our Master and Creator. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! Nonie is survived by her brother, Edward Lee Sellars, Jr. [Donna]; her sister, Dr. Precious Sellars-Mulhern [John]; 10 nieces: Juliett Edwina Howard Scott [Clarence], Cheryl Sellars Holt, Nadirah Sellars Bashir [Khalif], Karen Denise Howard Winston [Dr. Anthony], Carlotta Ann Howard McKenzie [Stephen], Julie Simone Mulhern, Patricia Moore Tyler, Sarah Wright Moore, Brenda Clay, Sandra Stone; 9 nephews: Christopher Bernard Howard, Henry Brown, Edward Lee Sellars III, Kevin Sellars, Jonathan Patrick Mulhern, Henry Stone, Donald Stone, Blayne Stone [Charlayne], Bruce Stone [April); 3 great-nephews: Clarence Julian Scott, Karl Scott, Michael Scott; 2 great-nieces, Carlette McKenzie, Stephanie McKenzie, and a host of other family and friends.

Tributes

Manonia "Nonie" Sellars Brown

July 31, 1933 - August 7, 2025