Brown-Chappell was born November 25, 1946 in San Francisco, California but grew up in Lakota, Michigan. She is the oldest child of eight borne by Clara Lucille (née Williams) Brown and Benjamin Franklin Brown. She has four sisters and three brothers. The order of siblings is as follows, from oldest to youngest: Gail Lee Brown Patterson, the second child, was the first African American South Haven councilwoman and is now a retired daycare owner and a youth librarian. Frances Elaine Brown Ray was third and is a retired teacher, churchwoman, and deaconess. Sandra Maria Brown-Bingham is the fourth child of eight. Benjamin 'Frankie' Franklin Brown, Jr. is the fifth child and the first boy. He was called "Frankie" as a baby and then "Ben" later. He plays the cross-strung harp and is an organic farmer and healthcare worker. Carolyn Evonne Brown Rowles was born sixth and she is the youngest girl. With a degree in psychology, she became a social worker assisting those with mental challenges. David Sterling Brown is the seventh child, and Daniel Scott Brown is the youngest child of eight.