First Lady Minnette Chanel Brown was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 6, 1979.  She is the eldest of seven and the only child born to the late Min. Barnard Avery and Annette Forrest.  She was raised by her grandmother, Mrs. Lillie Forrest, but her cousin, Deacon Saul Foster and his dear friend, Sis. Ruthie Frost, along with Sis. Rose Bradshaw, Deacon Jesse Nunn and Deaconess Lillie Jo Nunn held the responsibility of taking her to Sunday school and church every Sunday and were influential in introducing her to Jesus Christ.

Lady Minnette grew up in Cleveland and is a graduate of Jane Addams Business Career Center.  She received her Associates degree in Business Management from Bryant and Stratton University and is employed as a Physician Office Secretary at Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatric Office (Streetsboro Campus).

Lady Minnette attended Greater Whitestone Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Pastor Charlie Boyd and later joined Israelite Missionary Baptist Church, at the age of ten, under the leadership of the late Pastor Randall Davis.  She was an active member of the choir, youth ministry, usher board and nurse’s guild. It was at Israelite, where she was provided additional spiritual leadership and guidance from her Godparents Deacon Derrick and Theresa Cooley. The Cooley's treated her as their very own child and helped raise her up into adulthood, instilling in her the meaning of hard-work and placing God first and foremost in her life.