Ruth H. Brown

 

Ruth Juanita Harrell Brown, daughter of the late Willis Harrell and the late Hazel Young Harrell was born on February 24, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland. She departed this life peacefully on September 27, 2016 surrounded by her family. Ruth attended Baltimore Public Schools. Noticing a spark in their niece’s eyes to continue her education, her aunt and uncle the late William and Lula Young brought her to Boston to continue her education at Boston State Teacher’s College where she received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education. While attending college she met her lifelong friend Edith Brown Elder who introduced her to her brother Korean War Veteran Warren I. Brown. From this meeting, Warren and Ruth were married and out of this union two children were born Cheryl Brown-Greene and Karen E. B. Evans. She taught for the Boston Public Schools for 40 years but was particularly proud of her 25 years working as an Advanced Work Class teacher. She won numerous teaching awards and acknowledgements but her proudest teaching award was the Golden Apple Award. She loved her students and she loved teaching Ruth supported many community and civic organizations but was the major benefactor of the Warren I. Brown Memorial Scholarship given yearly to high school students who have participated in community service on Patriots’ Day. A 56-year member of the Massachusetts Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ruth obtained the honor of becoming the Department President for the state of Massachusetts. She was the first African-American woman in Massachusetts to hold this position. She served this organization proudly and many know her for her strong commitment to this country and its veterans. Ruth loved all sports and was a fan of all the Boston teams. She loved to boast that she had traveled almost all of the 50 states through her association with the VFW. She was an avid reader and enjoyed crocheting. Ruth leaves to cherish her memory, her daughters Cheryl Brown-Greene and Karen E. B. Evans, grandchildren Efrem Evans Jr., Karyn Greene, Stephanie Greene and Ashley Evans, brothers Willis Harrell Jr. and wife Delores, Melvin Harrell and wife Shirley, and Ronald Harrell, brother in law Richard G. Brown, God Children Donald S. Harrell and Trudi Brown Clark and sons in law Russell Greene and Efrem Evans Sr., and a host of nieces and nephews, family and friends. Funeral Service, Tues., Oct 4, in the Dolan Funeral Home,  1140 Washington St., DORCHESTER LOWER MILLS at 10 o’clock.  Visiting  Hours, Mon 4-8 pm. Interment Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree. Teacher of 40 years with Boston Public Schools. Massachusetts Past Department President Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  If desired contributions in Ruth’s name may be sent to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168