Dr. Mamie Q. Brown

Mamie was born to Mrs. Lizzie R. Lee and the late Mr. Willie Lee, Jr. on March 19, 1950 in Uniontown, Alabama. She accepted and confessed that Jesus Christ was Lord of her life at a very young age, and joined St. Mary Primitive Baptist Church in Uniontown, Alabama. Her love for Christ anchored her life from beginning to end.

She attended Uniontown High School where she served as a civil rights trailblazer for change in the southern education system. As a result of her academic excellence and strength of character, Mamie was among the group of seven black students who bravely faced-down “Jim Crow” bigotry in the segregated south through her participation in the desegregation of Uniontown High School. This experience stirred in Mamie a desire to become a change agent ensuring all students were given the opportunity to receive a sound education.

After graduating in 1968, Mamie completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Alabama majoring in Education. With degree in hand, Mamie began her career as a Special Education teacher in Carrollton, Georgia. During this time, she completed her Master’s degree in Education at West Georgia College. Wishing to join her family in Indiana, Mamie relocated to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1978 continuing her career as a Special Education teacher at Paul Harding High School. Here she would meet another young instructor who had also joined the growing faculty at Paul Harding. Over football games, and talks of dreams, the two instructors realized their lives would become one. Mamie married Neal Brown III on February 13, 1982. From that union, Mamie and Neal’s daughter, Aftin Brown was born. Mamie and Aftin loved each other immensely. Mamie poured herself into raising a beautiful daughter for which she was very proud and the very apple of her eye. She loved her husband and was proud of him. Their family love was the backbone of her strength as she pushed forward.

Mamie’s career evolved into administration after teaching where she served as an Academic Counselor. She continued to expand her education by obtaining her Administration license from Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), culminating in the obtainment of a Doctorate Degree in Education from Ball State University. As an Academic Counselor for the Fort Wayne Community Schools, she guided thousands of students over her career in making wise decisions about their education and career choices. She worked with students diligently helping them to overcome challenges that stood between them and their successful outcome. It was commonly known that if Mamie was working the issue, it would be correctly done.

Mamie also saw education beyond the walls of school. Subsequently, she served as an ambassador for the Fort Wayne Community Schools’ International Student Exchange Program. In this role, she travelled to Japan multiple times along with her students to share and exchange cultural information with the host country. She also served as a host for the International Student Exchange Program several times.

After retiring from the Fort Wayne Community School system, Mamie continued her commitment to education. She returned to her first-love of teaching as an Adjunct Professor in the English Department at IPFW and later at Indiana Institute of Technology. She particularly enjoyed leading her students in the study of Critical Thinking which demanded hard work and challenged complacency.

Mamie was also very creative and an excellent decorator. She possessed flair and abundant style. She decorated her home with elegance and beauty. Mamie had the ability to take an old washboard and make it into a thing of art and beauty. She had a way of seeing around corners and imagined what could be. She was talented and reflected an inner vision that made her a good friend who could hear beyond words spoken. Family and friends were very important to her. She loved and cared for her mother. She also cherished being a loving mother and wife.

Mamie was a member of the Union Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, where she actively served for many years. In addition to other duties, she served as President of the Union Baptist Church Foreign Mission Ministry; and as State Representative for the Foreign Mission Board of National Baptist Convention, USA.

Mamie was preceded in death by her father, Mr. Willie Lee, Jr., and two brothers, Mr. Willie Alvin Lee, and Mr. Winston Earl (Barbara) Lee, along with her grandparents and several uncles and aunts.

Mamie leaves to remember and to celebrate her life, her devoted husband of 37 years, Dr. Neal Brown III; her loving daughter, Aftin R. Brown, Indianapolis, IN; her loving mother, Mrs. Lizzie R. Lee; six siblings, Ivy Jean (James) Custard, Canton, MI, Vincent Lee, Lyneice (Jimmie) Hunter, Pickerington, OH, Stephon D. (Joyce) Lee, Lawrenceville, GA, Pamela K. London, and Traysa R. Lee; and a host of uncles, aunts, sisters in-law, brothers in-law, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Mamie was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. She shared that she prayed God would use her to help others. Her prayer was answered. She lived a life of service to others. Her life was filled with the pursuit of excellence. She was strong with the heart of a Lion. Mamie will be truly missed - for now we bid farewell.