Wilhelmine "Inga" D. Brown

Wilhelmine Dermuhl Brown, 99, of Columbus, GA passed away at her residence Friday, March 14, 2025.

 A graveside service will be held at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery at 11:00 AM EST, Friday, March 28, 2025 with the Reverend Allison K. Owen officiating, according to McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory.

Wilhelmine “Inga” Dermuhl Brown was born August 2, 1925, in Siebenbrunn, Germany, the daughter of Anna Dermuhl Seiler. When Inga was a young girl growing up in Germany, her grandmother celebrated her golden jubilee in the tailoring business. She learned the trade of tailoring from both her grandmother and her mother, who was a master tailor in Augsburg, Germany. Inga continued her studies in school. She married her husband, Dale, an American soldier, in 1955, came to the United States and began working for a local business in Columbus doing alterations at first and gradually getting into designing.

In 1967, she opened her own business, the Flying Needle Tailor Shop in Columbus where she was beloved and highly regarded by her customers for her meticulous craftsmanship. She was a master tailor who, for 22 years, dressed the debutantes, brides and many of the fashionable ladies in Columbus who followed the trends and could afford custom made, one-of-a-kind clothing. They’d bring in a picture from a magazine or sketch something, she would take their measurements and make it. She didn’t need a pattern. The fabrics she used for these creations came from two sources, Elegance from France, and Maxine Fabrics from New York, featuring swatches of silks, chiffons, gabardines, velvets, etc. that her customers could choose from. Over the years, Inga and her shop were featured in three articles in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, including in 1971 when she was asked to make a custom flag for Columbus’s Southern Open PGA Golf Tournament that was displayed under the American Flag at the entrance to the Green Island Country Club.

Inga was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who always put her family first, cherishing time with her loved ones, as they did with her, and prioritizing her family’s needs and well-being.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Carlon D. Brown; and seven siblings, Elsbeth, Traudl, Irmgart, Ruth, Udo, and Walter.

She is survived by her daughter, Anita Brown Young of Columbus, Georgia; granddaughter, Elizabeth Young Hammock (Rodney) of Phenix City, Alabama; grandson Stephen Colin Young (Becky) of Columbus, Georgia; great grandchildren, Elissa Brooke Young and Stephen Holt Young.

A special, heartfelt thank you to Columbus Hospice. The family expresses tremendous gratitude for the compassionate support and care provided by all the nurses, CNAs, and volunteers. Their unwavering dedication truly does make a difference.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Columbus Hospice, 7020 Moon Road, Columbus, GA 31909.