Called a “visionary”, longtime Kalamazoo lawmaker Mary Brown passes away

KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Mary Brown, a longtime State Representative from the Kalamazoo area, has passed away.

According to officials with the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party, Brown passed away Sunday at the age of 86.

Brown served in the Michigan House for 18 years, between 1977 and 1994. She represented Kalamazoo’s 60th District. That seat is currently held by Representative Julie Rogers.

“The Honorable Mary Brown was a legislative legend who loved serving as Kalamazoo’s State Representative of the 60th District. She was a special mentor to me, and often offered sage advice, particularly when I was facing a tough situation. She was both practical and visionary. She was never afraid to speak up and fiercely advocate for whatever cause she believed in, especially reproductive rights and environmental protection. Thank you Mary – you have made a permanent mark on so many lives in Kalamazoo.”

Governor Gretchen Whitmer offered her condolences to Brown’s family in a tweet Monday, calling her “a passionate person and a fighter for her constituents.”