Edna Jean (EJ) Chavis Garrett Brown, 80, of Roanoke Va., passed away February 8, 2026, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Born March 9, 1945, in Yukon, Mo., to Cleve and Meta Chavis, she was the eldest of four daughters. EJ grew up in Pekin, IL. After completing secretarial school in 1964, EJ moved to Washington D.C. to take a job as a secretary for the CIA. She moved to Roanoke Va., in 1975 with her husband and two daughters.
EJ was a long-time member of the American Business Woman’s Association and served on the board of the local chapter. She was the “Avon lady” in North Lakes for most of the 1980’s and won many awards for sales every year. After going back to school, EJ earned her bachelor’s degree from Averett University in 1993. EJ was a talented seamstress and made many of her own clothes and her daughters’ clothes, even if they preferred she didn’t.
EJ always had a green thumb and became a Master Gardener in 2010. She spent countless hours in her garden and greenhouse and never met a plant she didn’t love. EJ loved to travel and went to each of the 50 States at least once. Egypt was her bucket list destination, and she travelled there in 1999. She also traveled to Japan and Hong Kong with her sisters. EJ loved nothing more than spending time with her kids, grandkids and cats.
EJ was preceded in death by her parents, Cleve and Meta Chavis; her ex-husband, Wayland Garrett and her beloved cats, Cheech, Kitty Biscuit and Yikes.
EJ is survived by her daughters, Sue Ellen Welch (Chris) of Roanoke Va., and Mary Ann Gober (Kevin) of New Castle, Va.; grandchildren, AJ Beard (Isaac) of Roanoke Va., Emily Priddy (Leo) of Christiansburg Va.,, Riley Moore of Roanoke Va. and Brandon Gober of New Castle Va.; sisters, Coleen Tarvin of Havana, Ill., Elaine Parod (John) of Austin, Texas, Diane Cloud of Sun City, West Ariz. and her nieces and nephew.
Per EJ’s wishes, no funeral services will be held. EJ’s ashes will be scattered at Big Creek, Yukon, Missouri by her family.
In lieu of flowers, EJ requested donations be made in her name to The Parkinson’s Foundation or the Franklin County Humane Society.
