Dora Amaro Brown

Ms. Dora Amaro Brown transitioned from her earthly body to her heavenly home on Tuesday, November 25, 2014. She was born on September 10, 1929, in Tampa, Florida to the late Gavino and Rafaela Amaro of Havana, Cuba.

At an early age, Ms. Brown realized the value of literacy and firmly believed that education was the key to a successful life in American society despite the racial and social barriers that existed during her era. She graduated from Don Thompson High School and received her bachelor and master degrees from Florida A&M University. Thereafter, she enthusiastically answered the call to educate and quickly embraced the value of life-long learning.

Ms. Brown was a devoted and faithful member of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church for more than fifty years. She will be remembered for her deep faith in God and powerful spiritual values, which directed her activities and those of others to a higher level of accomplishment. Her life-log commitment to the Catholic Church energized a faith that blossomed through her community and influenced her effectiveness in the other roles she embraced in life, including the roles that linked most closely to her family.

Ms. Brown's family remembers her as a proud and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed outfitting her "grands" for Easter and would always surprise them with the cutest clothes. Moreover, she loved and adored many of her friends like family and was continually adding to "family" who were struck by her warmth, strength and infectious sense of humor. She retired after 30 years of faithful service as an educator and administrator with the Hillsborough County School System. She remained generous with her friendship, guidance and wisdom and freely shared her morals and priorities with others in an effort to effectuate change. A healthy dose of that change was adopted in the communities she served.

Ms. Brown possessed a passion for local elections and undoubtedly could be found front and center assisting in local voter registration drives and "Get Out The Vote" campaigns. She enjoyed an active social agenda and remained active in several social and service organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

In essence, Ms. Brown loved people, embraced change and loved to celebrate life with family and friends. Affectionately known as "Mamira" by those close to her, she considered it a personal hobby and cherished past time to spend quality time with her daughters, grandchildren and friends and loved to host social gatherings. She leaves behind a legacy of strong integrity, commitment to faith and advocate of social change.

Ms. Brown is survived by a loving circle of family and friends, including two daughters, Benita Coakley Ransom (Philip) and Tanya Darnell Lestage (Anthony); hree grandchildren, Damany Ransom (Beatrice), Tenill Ransom and akinah Lestage; two great-grandchildren, Kiera Bairey and Zane Ransom; all from Atlanta, Georgia; two brothers, Orlando Valdez of New York and Frank Amaro of Florida; Special Companion, Alberto Lopez and a host of other relatives and friends. One brother, Oreste Amaro, pre-deceased her.