Hazel Lamont Brown

Hazel Lamont Brown 78, who taught in the D.C. Public Schools for 31 years and devoted over 30 years of service to the Parent-Teacher Association PTA, died July 23 at her home in Washington, D.C. She had cancer. Mrs. Brown dedicated her life to the educational needs of the children of the District of Columbia through her career as a teacher and her active involvement with the District of Columbia Congress of Parents and Teachers. She was born in Lynchburg, VA and shortly thereafter moved with her mother, the late Rev. Hazel Brownrigg, to Washington, D.C. She was a product of the D.C. Public Schools and graduated from Dunbar High in 1945. Mrs. Brown received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with Teaching Fields in French and Social Studies, from West Virginia State College in 1949. She fulfilled her practice teaching obligations at West Virginia State that summer, teaching seventh graders. Mrs. Brown took graduate courses at Trinity College and the University of the District of Columbia. In 1950, she received an appointment to the Navy Department, where she served as a Clerk Typist until 1960. She began her teaching career at Lucretia Mott Elementary School in 1962. In 1965, she transferred to Katie C. Lewis Elementary School, where she taught and played an instrumental role in the lives of her students for 28 years until her retirement in June 1993. In addition to her career as a teacher, Mrs. Brown devoted over 30 years of service to the District of Columbia Congress of Parents and Teachers Association. She was a past PTA President of Taft Junior High School and McKinley Tech Senior High School and served as President and Vice President of the Area 3A Council. She served two terms as President of the District of Columbia Congress of Parents and Teachers and distinguished herself in many other capacities as one committed to the success of the PTAs locally and nationally. Throughout her life, Mrs. Brown played an active role in the Washington community. She served on many community and citywide committees and organizations. She served in the Ward 5 community with her involvement on the Ward 5 School Council Special Education Committee; as a member of the Education Committee of the Woodbridge Civic Association and on many other community organizations. Mrs. Brown worked for several years with the District of Columbia Reading Council, including two years as President of this international association. Among the numerous awards and honors that she received are the Ward 1 Outstanding Teacher Award in 1987 and 1988; Outstanding Service Awards from the District of Columbia Reading Council in 1991 and 1993; an Exemplary Performance Award from the D.C. Association for Specialist in Group Work in 1992; the Grace Baisinger Advocates for Children Award from the District of Columbia Congress of Parents and Teachers in 1990; an Exemplary Practices Award in 1991 for a project developed using poetry and prose to improve the communication skills of students from kindergarten through the 12th grade and a Citation from the District of Columbia Board of Education in 1993 honoring ?her dedication and commitment to improving the educational opportunities for our children and the citizens of our city...?. She continued to volunteer her time to the Congress of Parents and Teachers and remained very active in the Ward 5 community. Mrs Brown served the D.C. Public School System in retirement by helping in the evaluation of charter schools and by training and advising incoming teachers. Mrs. Brown was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for over 50 years and remained active in the local chapter for several years after reaching Golden Soror status. She was a lifelong member of Galbraith A.M.E. Zion church in Northwest Washington. Mrs. Brown served on numerous committees at Galbraith including several years as President of the Georgia Mason Guild, an organization dedicated to charitable causes within the church and the Galbraith community. She was honored with a Recognition Award for Forty Years or More of Service to Galbraith in 1998. Her husband of fifty years, William H.L. Brown, Sr. died in 2000. Survivors include six children, William Jr. of Washington, Kim of Washington, Candice of Durham, NC, Rayford of Washington, Ron of Washington and Keenan of Hyattsville, MD; two devoted daughters-in-law, Corniece Keene Brown of Hyattsville, MD and Dr. Patricia Aletky of New Hope, MN. Four grandchildren, Ron of Atlanta, GA, Josefina Aletky of New Hope, MN, Keana and Keenan, Jr. of Hyattsville, MD and many friends. To send a lasting tribute or condolences to the Brown family, please sign the Online Guestbook below. Click "Sign Guestbook".

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Hazel Lamont Brown

July 25, 1927 - July 23, 2006