Dr. Margaret Elizabeth Brand

Dr. Margaret Elizabeth Brand, 95, died peacefully in the loving presence of family on November 17, 2014 at Covenant Shores Retirement Community, Mercer Island.

Margaret was born in London to William and Margaret Berry on June 19, 1919. In 1921 her family moved to South Africa where her father worked as a district medical officer. The family returned to England in 1931. Margaret went to medical college in London during WWII. It was during these years that she committed her life to the Lord, and met Paul Wilson Brand. They were married in 1943. In 1947 they went as medical missionaries to the Christian Medical College, Vellore, South India. Besides clinical duties they taught and performed research, while raising six children. Margaret homeschooled four of the children until grade three.

In 1948 Margaret started work in Ophthalmology and increasingly both Paul and she became involved in the treatment of patients with Hansen’s Disease (leprosy) at the Schieffelin Leprosy Center in Karigiri, India. Here Margaret started what would become her life’s work. They returned to England in 1963, and in 1966 accepted posts at the National Leprosy Center in Carville, LA where Margaret was head of the Ophthalmology Clinic until 1987. “Dr. Margaret” became a top world expert on leprosy disease of the eye. She traveled extensively as a consultant and educator, especially to Ethiopia, India, and China among many places, even after she retired to Seattle, Washington in 1988. She served on the boards of the American Leprosy Mission and CRISTA.

Paul and Margaret were active members at Westside Presbyterian Church in West Seattle where Margaret was able to play her beloved violin, which she continued to enjoy for another 25 years. In her life and travels she welcomed all people with open arms, listening to their thoughts and concerns with unique intensity, always ready to pray with them. In her presence everyone felt the love of God. Many people will also remember Margaret for her marmalade, bread-making, Indian cooking, knitting, and adoration of the natural world. And she rejoiced in being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She was preceded in death by husband Paul in 2003, parents William and Margaret Berry, sisters Anna and Frieda. She leaves six children, Christopher (Kelly), Jean, Mary (Jim), Estelle (Sylvester), Patricia (Mike), and Pauline (Mark), 12 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren, all of whom will miss her, and her prayer support. Memorials preferred.

There will be a memorial service Saturday, January 10 at 2:00 pm, at Evergreen Covenant Church, Mercer Island, WA.