Who is Mrs. Brown from Elijah of Buxton and what is their importance?

Mrs. Brown is a friend in Buxton who is a wonderful baker of pies. She lost a baby two years ago, and since that time has only worn black. Elijah sometimes sees her in the woods weeping and talking to something that is not there. She cannot stop mourning. When Elijah takes the baby from Mrs. Chloe, he uses the story of Mrs. Brown to describe his mother, and knows that when he brings the baby to the Settlement that he will give her to Mrs. Brown. He feels Mrs. Brown will some day soon buy some dress fabric with color in it.