Official Obituary of
Ernestyne Kyles Brown
January 1, 1932 ~ January 12, 2026 (age 94) 94 Years Old
Ernestyne Brown Obituary
Life Reflections
Mrs. Ernestyne K. Brown
Ernestyne Kyles Brown was a native of Lexington, Mississippi. On January 1, 1932, she was born the sixth of twelve children to the late Kittrell Drayton Kyles, Sr. and Mary Etta Whitehead.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Presiding Elder O'Neal Hayes (O.H.) Brown, Sr.; her son, Loyse Clay, Jr. (affectionately known as "Spanky"); her siblings: John Kyles, Sr., Willie Kyles, Allen Kyles, Sr., Catherine Lloyd, Johnson Kyles, Pearl Harris, and Virgil Glenn Kyles; three stepchildren, Robert Hayes Brown, Sr., O'Neal Hayes Brown, Jr., and Macie Monica Lee; and step-granddaughter, Bridgette Holmes.
She attended public schools in Southeast Missouri and graduated from Central High School in 1950. A lifelong advocate of education and preparation, Ernestyne pursued extensive academic and professional training. She attended Xavier University, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Kittrell Junior College, and earned a Certified Professional Secretary Certificate from the State of Missouri.
Ernestyne began her Christian journey early, converting at the age of eleven. In 1952, she united with St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church under the pastorate of Reverend M. R. Dixon. She was deeply impressed with the law, order, doctrine, and mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, historically established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In 1953, Ernestyne united in Holy Matrimony to the late Reverend Loyse Clay, Sr. Two children were born to this union: Loyse Clay, Jr. and Alisa K. Jones. Through her children, she was blessed with three granddaughters: Annanda, Krystal, and Andrea. Ernestyne was a faithful member at Parks Chapel A.M.E. Church in Webster Groves for many years. She enjoyed playing the piano, directing the youth choir, and leading the local Young People's Department (YPD). Her love for youth and the desire to keep young people engaged led her to coach the first Parks Chapel softball team. The team won some games, possibly lost more; however, a fun time was always had, and her joy came from seeing her team establish lifelong friendships. It brought her great joy to load the youth choir up in cars and head downtown each year to practice for the Annual Conference YPD choir night. In 1969, Parks Chapel A.M.E. Church's newly built edifice was dedicated under the leadership of Reverend O'Neal H. Brown, Sr. Ernestyne, of course, designed the souvenir book with love to ensure the members would forever have a memento of this historic event.
Later in life, on October 1, 1977, Ernestyne was united in Holy Matrimony to Reverend O. H. Brown, Sr., and they relocated to Kansas City, Missouri and pastored Cain Grant A.M.E. Church. He affectionately called her "Peachy." As a devoted wife and partner in ministry, she embraced her role as a stepmother to nine children and developed a deep sense of pride in her expanded family. Throughout her distinguished career, Ernestyne received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Outstanding Legal Assistant Award; an Appreciation of Service Award as President of the A.M.E. Ministers' Wives Alliance of the Northwest Missouri Conference; Employee of the Month from the Kansas City, Missouri School District; and multiple honors recognizing excellence in quality of work, client relations, enthusiasm, initiative, and performance. In 1985, Reverend O.H. Brown was appointed Presiding Elder of the St. Louis Cape-Girardeau District and they returned to St. Louis and resided in Florissant, Missouri. As the wife of Presiding Elder O. H. Brown, Sr., Ernestyne exemplified excellence in ministry and service. She generously shared her organizational, administrative, and technical skills to support the work of the A.M.E. Church and uplift others. She was especially grateful for her spiritual partnership with her husband and their shared calling, which spanned over three generations. She cherished the opportunity to travel throughout the St. Louis-Cape Girardeau District, meeting faithful A.M.E. members across many congregations. She took great pride in the A.M.E. Church as a universal and connectional denomination and considered it both a blessing and a reward to be among the founders of the Connectional PK movement. Ernestyne was assigned by Supervisor Vivienne Anderson to represent the 5th Episcopal District at the first organizational meeting of the "Connectional Ministers Spouses Widows and Widowers Organization Plus Preachers Kids" (Conn-M_SWAWO+P.K.'s), December 1-2, 1989, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. The meeting was called together by the late Reverend Dr. John Q. Owens, Founder. Representatives from each Episcopal District attended to help organize.
Ernestyne was appointed Secretary for the meeting (the first), provided her input and also recorded thorough minutes. These important minutes are archived in "The Inception and Beyond Book" of the Conn-M_SWAWO+PKs. Ernestyne retired in 2002 from the Betty Jean Kerr People's Health Center after a highly successful tenure. She served with distinction as Executive Secretary and later as Executive Assistant to the President and CEO, the late Mrs. Betty Jean Kerr. Her responsibilities included supervising office staff, working independently in executive operations, serving on the Marketing and Outreach Committee, supporting the Board of Directors, corresponding with officials at local, state, and international levels, and assisting with comprehensive administrative functions. Her creative talents were evident through her production of several professional-quality Presiding Elder Directories for the St. Louis-Cape Girardeau District and the Fifth Episcopal District, as well as numerous highquality souvenir books for special events. Among these were her 50th Class Reunion Souvenir Book and a beautifully illustrated Family Reunion Book. During her presidency of the Missouri Conference Ministers' Wives and Widows Alliance, she commemorated its 57th Anniversary with a historically rich souvenir publication honoring past presidents, including the founder, Helen Armstrong Williams. One of Ernestyne's proudest accomplishments was co-writing and managing the publication of her husband's autobiography, From Boy Preacher to Serving God and Humanity: A Legacy of 77 Years, published in 2004. She credited much of her success to her husband's unwavering support, allowing her to become the woman God created her to be. Ernestyne was a model of loyalty, faithfulness, and encouragement, always uplifting others through her words and actions.
In 2010, Ernestyne had the opportunity to serve in Africa under the leadership of Bishop C. Garnet Henning and Supervisor Ernestine Lee Henning of the Third Episcopal District. She traveled to Ghana and Liberia with missionaries to support the "Water for the Children of Africa" initiative, helping install wells for clean drinking water. The mission also included delivering supplies to a school in Ghana and the A.M.E. Clinic in Monrovia, Liberia. During her visit, she toured the university founded by Bishop Henning, later named in his honor. The African Methodist Episcopal Church honors Ernestyne Brown for her perseverance, her firm opposition to complacency and conformity, and her passionate pursuit of God's purpose for her life. She exemplified the belief that it is not where one starts in life, but how one lives it.
Above all, Ernestyne's greatest devotion was to her family. She often said, "Our family is just the right size." She treasured road trips with her son, Loyse Jr., and daughter, Alisa, especially visits to Kansas City and Columbia, as well as annual family reunions across the country. She also enjoyed annual trips to Branson with her late son, her daughter-in-law Charlet, and her dear friend, Ruby Hinkle. Her self-assigned project was to research and trace her family's roots. Each year, she would provide more information to heighten the family's knowledge of their heritage and background. She would join genealogy clubs to learn how to deep dive into her ancestors' background by pulling census reports, birth/death certificates, and other vital records. She'd spend countless hours at the local library on her research. She enjoyed traveling, reading, genealogy research, exercising, knitting, crocheting, and completing word search puzzles.
Her most loved hobby was knitting and crocheting, as you would rarely catch her without her needles and yarn. She always welcomed the challenge of a difficult pattern and most difficult yarn to make something beautiful. Before she left us, she made sure all of her family had a piece of her work to hold onto. Even her great-grandfurbabies have blankets made with love by Ghana's hands!
On Monday morning, January 12, 2026, at 9:52 a.m., Ernestyne Kyles Brown left this earthly realm for her heavenly reward. We will miss her presence, smile, and sense of humor. Though the void will be deep, we will fill it with her spirit that will continue to inspire us and the generations to come.
Ernestyne will always be remembered for the distinction, elegance, and grace she embodied. Affectionately known as "Peachy," "Tyne," and "Ghana," she lives on in the hearts of all whose lives she touched.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter, Alisa K. Jones of Florissant, Missouri; three granddaughters, Annanda L. Jones of Florissant, Missouri, Krystal E. Clay of Fenton, Missouri, and Andrea L. Jones of Hazelwood, Missouri; one daughter-in-law, Charlet E. Clay of Ballwin, Missouri; one great-granddaughter, Kamia E. Clay of Fenton, Missouri; three great-grandfurbabies, Kokoa, Phoebe, and Kash; two sisters, Pauline Johnson and Maxine Hughey of St. Louis, Missouri; two brothers, Clenzie Kyles, Sr., of Benton Harbor, Michigan, and Kittrell Kyles, Jr. (Rachel) of St. Charles, Missouri; stepchildren, Helen L. Hairston (Attral), Roland S. Brown (Naomi), Paul F. Brown (Janice), William L. Brown, Sr. (Patricia), Joyce K. Phillips, Ruby C. O'Quinn (Jerry); a bonus niece, Rhonda M. Cunningham; best friend/sister, Mrs. Ernestine Henning; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends who all loved her deeply.
Mrs. Ernestyne K. Brown
Ernestyne Kyles Brown was a native of Lexington, Mississippi. On January 1, 1932, she was born the sixth of twelve children to the late Kittrell Drayton Kyles, Sr. and Mary Etta Whitehead.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Presiding Elder O'Neal Hayes (O.H.) Brown, Sr.; her son, Loyse Clay, Jr. (affectionately known as "Spanky"); her siblings: John Kyles, Sr., Willie Kyles, Allen Kyles, Sr., Catherine Lloyd, Johnson Kyles, Pearl Harris, and Virgil Glenn Kyles; three stepchildren, Robert Hayes Brown, Sr., O'Neal Hayes Brown, Jr., and Macie Monica Lee; and step-granddaughter, Bridgette Holmes.
She attended public schools in Southeast Missouri and graduated from Central High School in 1950. A lifelong advocate of education and preparation, Ernestyne pursued extensive academic and professional training. She attended Xavier University, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Kittrell Junior College, and earned a Certified Professional Secretary Certificate from the State of Missouri.
Ernestyne began her Christian journey early, converting at the age of eleven. In 1952, she united with St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church under the pastorate of Reverend M. R. Dixon. She was deeply impressed with the law, order, doctrine, and mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, historically established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In 1953, Ernestyne united in Holy Matrimony to the late Reverend Loyse Clay, Sr. Two children were born to this union: Loyse Clay, Jr. and Alisa K. Jones. Through her children, she was blessed with three granddaughters: Annanda, Krystal, and Andrea. Ernestyne was a faithful member at Parks Chapel A.M.E. Church in Webster Groves for many years. She enjoyed playing the piano, directing the youth choir, and leading the local Young People's Department (YPD). Her love for youth and the desire to keep young people engaged led her to coach the first Parks Chapel softball team. The team won some games, possibly lost more; however, a fun time was always had, and her joy came from seeing her team establish lifelong friendships. It brought her great joy to load the youth choir up in cars and head downtown each year to practice for the Annual Conference YPD choir night. In 1969, Parks Chapel A.M.E. Church's newly built edifice was dedicated under the leadership of Reverend O'Neal H. Brown, Sr. Ernestyne, of course, designed the souvenir book with love to ensure the members would forever have a memento of this historic event.
Later in life, on October 1, 1977, Ernestyne was united in Holy Matrimony to Reverend O. H. Brown, Sr., and they relocated to Kansas City, Missouri and pastored Cain Grant A.M.E. Church. He affectionately called her "Peachy." As a devoted wife and partner in ministry, she embraced her role as a stepmother to nine children and developed a deep sense of pride in her expanded family. Throughout her distinguished career, Ernestyne received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Outstanding Legal Assistant Award; an Appreciation of Service Award as President of the A.M.E. Ministers' Wives Alliance of the Northwest Missouri Conference; Employee of the Month from the Kansas City, Missouri School District; and multiple honors recognizing excellence in quality of work, client relations, enthusiasm, initiative, and performance. In 1985, Reverend O.H. Brown was appointed Presiding Elder of the St. Louis Cape-Girardeau District and they returned to St. Louis and resided in Florissant, Missouri. As the wife of Presiding Elder O. H. Brown, Sr., Ernestyne exemplified excellence in ministry and service. She generously shared her organizational, administrative, and technical skills to support the work of the A.M.E. Church and uplift others. She was especially grateful for her spiritual partnership with her husband and their shared calling, which spanned over three generations. She cherished the opportunity to travel throughout the St. Louis-Cape Girardeau District, meeting faithful A.M.E. members across many congregations. She took great pride in the A.M.E. Church as a universal and connectional denomination and considered it both a blessing and a reward to be among the founders of the Connectional PK movement. Ernestyne was assigned by Supervisor Vivienne Anderson to represent the 5th Episcopal District at the first organizational meeting of the "Connectional Ministers Spouses Widows and Widowers Organization Plus Preachers Kids" (Conn-M_SWAWO+P.K.'s), December 1-2, 1989, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. The meeting was called together by the late Reverend Dr. John Q. Owens, Founder. Representatives from each Episcopal District attended to help organize.
Ernestyne was appointed Secretary for the meeting (the first), provided her input and also recorded thorough minutes. These important minutes are archived in "The Inception and Beyond Book" of the Conn-M_SWAWO+PKs. Ernestyne retired in 2002 from the Betty Jean Kerr People's Health Center after a highly successful tenure. She served with distinction as Executive Secretary and later as Executive Assistant to the President and CEO, the late Mrs. Betty Jean Kerr. Her responsibilities included supervising office staff, working independently in executive operations, serving on the Marketing and Outreach Committee, supporting the Board of Directors, corresponding with officials at local, state, and international levels, and assisting with comprehensive administrative functions. Her creative talents were evident through her production of several professional-quality Presiding Elder Directories for the St. Louis-Cape Girardeau District and the Fifth Episcopal District, as well as numerous highquality souvenir books for special events. Among these were her 50th Class Reunion Souvenir Book and a beautifully illustrated Family Reunion Book. During her presidency of the Missouri Conference Ministers' Wives and Widows Alliance, she commemorated its 57th Anniversary with a historically rich souvenir publication honoring past presidents, including the founder, Helen Armstrong Williams. One of Ernestyne's proudest accomplishments was co-writing and managing the publication of her husband's autobiography, From Boy Preacher to Serving God and Humanity: A Legacy of 77 Years, published in 2004. She credited much of her success to her husband's unwavering support, allowing her to become the woman God created her to be. Ernestyne was a model of loyalty, faithfulness, and encouragement, always uplifting others through her words and actions.
In 2010, Ernestyne had the opportunity to serve in Africa under the leadership of Bishop C. Garnet Henning and Supervisor Ernestine Lee Henning of the Third Episcopal District. She traveled to Ghana and Liberia with missionaries to support the "Water for the Children of Africa" initiative, helping install wells for clean drinking water. The mission also included delivering supplies to a school in Ghana and the A.M.E. Clinic in Monrovia, Liberia. During her visit, she toured the university founded by Bishop Henning, later named in his honor. The African Methodist Episcopal Church honors Ernestyne Brown for her perseverance, her firm opposition to complacency and conformity, and her passionate pursuit of God's purpose for her life. She exemplified the belief that it is not where one starts in life, but how one lives it.
Above all, Ernestyne's greatest devotion was to her family. She often said, "Our family is just the right size." She treasured road trips with her son, Loyse Jr., and daughter, Alisa, especially visits to Kansas City and Columbia, as well as annual family reunions across the country. She also enjoyed annual trips to Branson with her late son, her daughter-in-law Charlet, and her dear friend, Ruby Hinkle. Her self-assigned project was to research and trace her family's roots. Each year, she would provide more information to heighten the family's knowledge of their heritage and background. She would join genealogy clubs to learn how to deep dive into her ancestors' background by pulling census reports, birth/death certificates, and other vital records. She'd spend countless hours at the local library on her research. She enjoyed traveling, reading, genealogy research, exercising, knitting, crocheting, and completing word search puzzles.
Her most loved hobby was knitting and crocheting, as you would rarely catch her without her needles and yarn. She always welcomed the challenge of a difficult pattern and most difficult yarn to make something beautiful. Before she left us, she made sure all of her family had a piece of her work to hold onto. Even her great-grandfurbabies have blankets made with love by Ghana's hands!
On Monday morning, January 12, 2026, at 9:52 a.m., Ernestyne Kyles Brown left this earthly realm for her heavenly reward. We will miss her presence, smile, and sense of humor. Though the void will be deep, we will fill it with her spirit that will continue to inspire us and the generations to come.
Ernestyne will always be remembered for the distinction, elegance, and grace she embodied. Affectionately known as "Peachy," "Tyne," and "Ghana," she lives on in the hearts of all whose lives she touched.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter, Alisa K. Jones of Florissant, Missouri; three granddaughters, Annanda L. Jones of Florissant, Missouri, Krystal E. Clay of Fenton, Missouri, and Andrea L. Jones of Hazelwood, Missouri; one daughter-in-law, Charlet E. Clay of Ballwin, Missouri; one great-granddaughter, Kamia E. Clay of Fenton, Missouri; three great-grandfurbabies, Kokoa, Phoebe, and Kash; two sisters, Pauline Johnson and Maxine Hughey of St. Louis, Missouri; two brothers, Clenzie Kyles, Sr., of Benton Harbor, Michigan, and Kittrell Kyles, Jr. (Rachel) of St. Charles, Missouri; stepchildren, Helen L. Hairston (Attral), Roland S. Brown (Naomi), Paul F. Brown (Janice), William L. Brown, Sr. (Patricia), Joyce K. Phillips, Ruby C. O'Quinn (Jerry); a bonus niece, Rhonda M. Cunningham; best friend/sister, Mrs. Ernestine Henning; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends who all loved her deeply.
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