Minnie Viola Styles

Minnie V. Styles was born on October 16, 1922. God called her home peacefully on the evening of September 23, 2025, after 102 years and 11 months! Minnie Styles was born on a farm in Midland, Virginia to the late Cornelius and Mamie Brown. She was the 5th child of 8 children, 3 boys and 5 girls all of whom were very close to her heart. Minnie often told us about the times she and her siblings had to walk a mile to their General Store known as Elk Run, where a school bus would take them to their segregated school. While in high school, her friends would often tease her saying “Here comes Minnie tall and skinny.” Minnie graduated from Manassas Regional High School on the 10th of June 1940 and was an A student throughout high school. After graduation from high school, she did not want to stay on her parent’s farm. Minnie shared many stories about life growing up on their farm. Minnie’s brothers would work the farm along with their dad while the girls would can fruits and vegetables and make molasses to sell to the local folks. It did not take long for her to decide to follow her older sister Lottie, who years before moved to Baltimore, Maryland. So, with her parent’s permission she opted to move there as well. Her father arranged for her to live with his sister, Betty Brown Faidley and her husband John, not far from her sister. They both lived a few blocks away from each other on Wolfe Street not far from Faith Baptist Church where she joined and became a longstanding member until failing health prevented her participation. She found employment at the Western Electric Company where she met the love of her life Calvin P. Styles. Calvin saw her having lunch in the cafeteria alone and asked if he could join her which she agreed. He eventually asked her on a date and as fate would have it, they eventually married on June 2nd, 1946, and the rest was history. They started a family in the late 1940’s after moving into Somerset Homes in Baltimore. Six children were born from their union: Calvin, Gregory, Kathleen, Wayne, Anthony and Lisa. In May of 1967, they bought their home on Sequoia Avenue. It was decided that Minnie would be a stay-at home mom and raise their growing family. Minnie worked various part time jobs to keep busy. Her last employment was at Western High School as a Food Service Worker. Over the years, Minnie amassed an incredible doll collection. Once retired from working, Minnie busied herself by going to ceramics classes, shopping, and traveling with her husband and Kathleen to Cancun, Mexico and New Orleans, La. Lisa entertained Mom and Dad in Hawaii where Lisa’s husband Dywan was stationed while serving in the Navy. Lisa also invited Mom countless times in later years to Texas with Kathleen as her travel mate after dad’s passing. They would spend times at the spa, shopping, and have gatherings with family and friends. Minnie was happily married to Calvin Styles for almost 70 years until his passing in November 2015. She had been able to maintain her health, her independence, and wonderful sense of humor until very recently. Minnie continued to live on Sequoia Avenue while being cared for by her eldest son Calvin until he was stricken by a stroke in late 2021. Subsequently, her care was then taken up by her other children who shared that responsibility until her recent stroke in September 2024. As a result, a decision was made to place her in Home Hospice sponsored by Bridging Life Hospice Center. As such, she was cared for at the home of her daughter Kathleen, who became her primary care giver, and was assisted by Gregory, Wayne, and Lisa. She leaves to mourn: her sons, Calvin, Gregory (Gretchen), Wayne (Rosetta) Anthony (Angela); her daughters, Kathleen and Lisa (Dywan); brother, James's “Jimmy” Brown and sister, Beatrice White; sister-in law, Dr. Connie Glasgow-Styles, MD; and a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

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Minnie Viola Styles

October 16, 1922 - September 23, 2025