Joyce Hall Brown

Joyce Laughlin Hall Brown, born December 31, 1926, passed away peacefully in her sleep Thursday March 18, 2021. She was in her 95th year. Artist, daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Joyce will be remembered for her quick wit and passion for the arts. Joyce was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Robert and Pauline Hall. She grew up in Ann Arbor, San Francisco, Japan and China. Joyce went to University High, Kingswood and Berkeley High schools. Joyce graduated from Berkeley High School, San Francisco during the Second World War. She then went to the University of Michigan where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She met the love of her life, Stratton Brown during the war and they married in 1948. Joyce taught art at Kingswood school for two years then, in 1950, she retired and gave birth to her first son Stratton Shartel Brown. Joyce went onto have two more children, daughter Paula Fead Brown-Gray and son Duncan Hall Brown. In 1958, Joyce and Stratton moved to Birmingham, Michigan where Joyce was actively involved in the art scene. She helped to establish the Birmingham/Bloomfield Art Association which continues to support and educate artists in the greater Birmingham/Bloomfield area. Joyce was also active in the Michigan Society of Women Painters and the Michigan Water Color Society. When she participated in exhibitions presented by these groups, she often won a top prize or placed as an honorable mention. Joyce continued to create works of art into her late 80s. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Pauline Hall, brother, Robert Hall, husband, Stratton Brown Sr. and son Stratton Brown Jr. She leaves behind, children, Paula and Duncan, three grandchildren, Stephanie, Kevin and Ian, and four great grandsons, Samuel, Gabriel, Owen and Colin. There is no service or memorial planned. If you want to remember Joyce, you may make contributions to the University of Michigan Art School in her name.