Marian "Midget" Friende Brower transitioned to her heavenly home on Saturday evening, September 7, 2024 at the age of 100.  Marian was born August 18, 1924, in Kernersville, N.C., one of seven children of Leone and Walter Friende, both deceased.

She was a graduate of Teachers' College (now Winston-Salem State University), in Winston-Salem, N.C.  Her exemplary teaching career began in North Wilkesboro, N.C. at Lincoln Heights School, followed by multiple schools in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools System.

Marian met the love of her life, Robert E. Brower, Sr., when they were very young children.  Over the years, fate found a way to keep throwing them together, even though they never lived in the same city, until they married in 1947.  This love story lasted 67 years and produced 3 children, 4 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Not long after she and Robert moved to Winston-Salem in the early '50s, they opened two neighborhood grocery stores – Midget's Supermarket #1 and #2.  Long before the phrase "food desert" became common, they understood that their neighbors had to walk long distances, ride the bus, or share rides to get to a grocery store.  They built an easily accessible oasis of fresh foods that was eagerly embraced by their neighbors.

Over her 30 years of teaching, Marian always believed that every child could learn; you just had to meet them where they were, build on what they already knew and never let them lose hope.  Marian was someone who was born to teach…and loved it!  Whether she was in the classroom, at church (St. Paul United Methodist Church) directing the cherub choir or creating the first choral group for her beloved Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she couldn't have been happier.

Marian was a lifetime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and served her chapter, Phi Omega, for 71 years.  She held numerous leadership roles and was the organizer and Director of the Phi Omega Chorus and the Handbell Choir that performed at local, regional, and national Sorority conferences.  She enjoyed having the Sorority use her home as the "Clubhouse" before Ivy Arms Apartments Clubhouse was built.

For all of her life, the church was her "home away from home", from sitting with her mother as she played the organ at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Kernersville, NC to becoming an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, NC.  There, she sang in the Senior Choir, organized the Handbell Choir, organized and directed the Cherub Choir, and was a member of the Weslyn Service Guild.

As you can tell from her life story, Marian was a patron of the arts -- she loved music (especially songs from the Big Band era), dancing and drama as seen through productions with her students at school and support of local plays.  She had a passion for crafts as expressed by her years of sewing, jewelry-making, and creating gifts and Christmas decorations for family and friends.  It wasn't uncommon to see her make a necklace and decide that "it wasn't quite right" and start all over.  She experienced just as much joy from the process of creating as she did from the end product!

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Brower, Sr.; three brothers, DePolle Friende, Billy Friende, Sr. and Palmer Friende; two sisters, Cozette F. Williams and Sarah F. Hamlin; and nephew, Charles Green, Jr.

Her youngest sister, Gwendolyn F. Greene of Winston-Salem, continues to celebrate life.

Marian is survived by her three children, Lynda Brower-Isabel (Wyatt) of Chapel Hill, NC, Robert E. Brower, Jr., and Keith B. Brower both of Winston-Salem, NC; four grandchildren, Robert E. Brower, III (Erica) of Winston-Salem NC, Lauren B. Isabel (Jordan) of Charlotte, NC, Bradford C. Brower (Ronda) of Holly Springs, NC and Thomas C. Isabel of Venice, CA; nephews and nieces, Samuel Hamlin, Jr. (Marie) of Greensboro, NC, Mona H. Martin (Eddie) of Atlanta, GA, Cheryl Friende and Billy Friende, Jr. (Donza) both of Winston-Salem, NC, Myra B. Waddell (Harry), Drew F. Brower and Carl W. Brower, Jr. all of Greensboro, NC, and Edwin Richardson (Rona) of Philadelphia, PA; one sister-in-law, Bette N. Friende; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; and a host of other relatives and friends.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Friday, September 13, 2024 at Russell Funeral Home.

The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Ivy Beyond the Wall Services will be held at 5:30pm Friday, September 13, 2024 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00pm Saturday, September 14, 2024 at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2400 Dellabrook Road Winston-Salem, NC.  Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 3:00pm until 4:00pm on Saturday at the Church.  For everyone's safety, masks are encouraged.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either the WSSU Department of Education: Text RAMSGIVE50 to 71777; The Winston-Salem Foundation Attn: Phi Omega Centennial 751 West Fourth Street, Suite #200 Winston-Salem, NC 27101 (Make checks payable to Winston-Salem Foundation; in the notation line write "In Memory of Marian Brower".); or The Flonnie Anderson Theatrical Association Productions Attn: Wayne Ledbetter 550 Kinard Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. (Make checks payable to: FATA Productions, Inc.)