Newly elected church deacon turns 100; Evelyn Brown is First Congregational mainstay

HAVERHILL — Centenarian Evelyn Brown was recently elected as a deacon at Haverhill’s First Congregational Church.

A birthday party was held for the lifelong Congregationalist following Sunday’s weekly service.

“They tell you (a key) to staying young and active and all the rest of it, you need a community and this church is my community, that’s really what it is,” said Brown, who turned 100 on Saturday. “When I moved to town, somebody brought me up here and introduced me, so I’ve stayed.”

Brown grew up in Massachusetts and moved to the Haverhill area 24 years ago to be closer to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She quickly became involved in church-related activities and served for many years as the president of the women’s fellowship group and a member of the nominating committee. Now she’s one of a half-dozen deacons.

“They were looking for somebody, ‘All right, I’ll give it a try,’ ” Brown explained after serving cake to friends in the parish hall adjacent to the church. “Usually you’re in it for three years. I’m not signing any papers for three years.”

Brown also sits on the search committee for a new minister. The Rev. Rebecca Larson has been the interim minister for the last 3½ years.

Larson expressed appreciation for the role Brown plays in their community.

“She’s like the wisdom of the church,” Larson said. “She knows how to put on suppers, she knows how much food to prepare and she just has had so much experience over the years in church. … She’s unflappable. The bible describes wisdom as a woman; ‘Lady Wisdom,’ and that’s what Evelyn is to this church is ‘Lady Wisdom.”

Ed Ballam is a First Congregational deacon who first met Brown when he joined the church group in the mid nineties.

On Sunday, he described her as both a spark plug and someone who is difficult to say ‘no’ to.

“If somebody says, we’ve got to have a dinner, Evelyn’s the one that says it, and then she’ll come up to you and say, ‘Ed, wouldn’t you like to be on that committee? We need you to do this,’ ” Ballam said. “I don’t say no to Evelyn.”

Ballam also spoke to Brown’s enthusiasm and what it means to the church.

“Unbelievable energy,” he said. “She is on fire. I’ve never seen anybody have that much energy and that much wisdom and caring, dedication. She’s the person that says, ‘Oh, somebody’s gotta do it, I’ll do it.’ She’s always been that way ever since I’ve known her.”

After Sunday’s congregation sang Happy Birthday, Brown gave an impromptu address, which included an invitation to a party set for June 15 — in recognition of her parents’ wedding anniversary — at her family’s farm in Dudley, Mass. Brown’s grandparents purchased the farm, now run by her nephew, in 1910.

A festive shindig is planned.

“We’re gonna have a tent and we’ve got music,” Brown said. “Oh my goodness — all kinds of stuff.”