Brown was born as Lucille Elsie Cropper in Natchitoches, Louisiana on 28 January 1912 as the second child of Ed and Marie Cropper. She had two brothers – Henry and Louis. She left high school in the 10th grade, after starting education later than most at the age of eight. In the 1920s, she moved to Houston, Texas.

Brown married her husband, carpenter Clem Charlie Brown, in 1936. The couple had two children: Stephen in 1941, and Carol in 1944. Brown and her family moved to Pasadena, Texas in 1952. She worked as a piano and accordion teacher until she was 100, in her home where she lived from 1952 until her death. She was also employed as a hairdresser.

After her husband’s death in 1978, Brown became a dog groomer, as well as breeding miniature poodles, which won her several dog shows in Houston and San Antonio.

As a centenarian, Brown enjoyed weekly trips to the salon, and celebrated her 107th birthday in 2019 by having a meal with her family. She was an avid fan of the Houston Astros baseball team, and always watched their games on the television.

Brown died on 21 March 2022 at the age of 110 years, 52 days. She was survived by her two children, as well as six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.