Tributes

DOROTHY MAE BROWN ("DOTTIE") was born on 17 August 1928 in Baltimore County, Maryland to the late Dora Jane Johnson Brown and Alfred Jefferson Brown, Senior. Her teenage parents provided solid Christian and academic foundations for Dottie and her late brother, Alfred "Bubby", Jr., born a mere 15 months after her birth. Known as an inquisitive, but obedient, child Dorothy attended Ms. Vergie De Coursey's two room schoolhouse in Pimlico. She graduated from the Frederick Douglass High School at 16 years of age and attended Coppin Teacher's College in fall of her 17th year. Dorothy earned a BA in Education in June 1949 and married her neighborhood sweetheart, Charles Brooks, the following month. Dorothy began teaching at School 104 in the tall of that year and she had a natural gift for instruction. Thus, began her life as a champion of the underdog. Her philosophy was that everyone and anyone can succeed if given half a chance and he/she takes advantage of that chance! She was living proof. She realized that her best weapon against a mediocre life-style was higher education, so she pursued an MA in Early Children Education at Loyola University in Baltimore in 1954 with "four (4) strikes against her: being Black, being a female, being pregnant and being from "the country," but she never let any of that limit her vision or her drive. Her daughter, Viviane Charlette, was born in December 1955. Four months later, Dorothy was a parent without a partner. A good steward over her income Dorothy, a skilled seamstress, made the majority of the clothing she and her daughter wore. The effort embodied her philosophy that there is a direct correlation between the way people look and the way they act. Her frugality enabled her to travel annually to the International Council of Community Churches (ICCC) where her associations and participation resulted I life-long friendships with ICCC members around the country. In May 1972, Dorothy was awarded an Advance Certificate in Early Childhoon Education and Guidance from the Johns Hopkins University. As she prepared for the PhD, she had left her beloved classroom instruction to assume an Administrator role with the Baltimore City Public School System. Though she remained a teacher at heart, Dorothy made the transition to the higher paying role to provide a private undergraduate education for her treasured daughter who had always attended the public school system, in which Dottie lovingly labored. Dorothy was an active member of three (3) of the four (4) churches she attended during her 91 years, including the Unity Christian Church of Pimlico, First Baptist Church of Pimlico, and Douglas Memorial Community Church, where she met the love of her life, the Late Rev. Marion Curtis Bascom, Sr. She was a member of the Trustee Board of the DMCC serving as its Chairman for a number of years; an alto in the Douglas Memorial Chancel Choir; and active member of the Women's Christian Fellowship and the Handcrafters. Dottie served Meals on Wheels, initially as a runner while her mother drove, and late as a driver for others. She was active on the Board of Camp Farthest Out (CFO) working diligently on the accreditation committees which she chaired twice. In November 1978, Dorothy and Marion were married by their dear friend, the late Rev. Frank Williams, in the living room of their Park Avenue home. They seldom disagreed over whom to help or how and their joint desire to make a difference resulted in many "children" in addition to the four (4) stepchildren she acquired in Bernadette; Marion, Jr.; Peter John and Singleton (James III). She mentored and loved Carmen Campbell, Charles Henry, Moses Ohale, Priscilla Ohale, Andrew & Annetta Smith, Elizabeth Tubman, and Chiedi Tubman and others who gathered on Sundays. Upon retiring from the Baltimore City Public Schools in June 1981, Dorothy immediately stepped into the executive role of Chief Operating Officer/Co-Owner of MACUBA Papers, a minority business in Baltimore. She simultaneously cared for her mother and savored time with her cherished grandchildren, Chokise Miller, Ellis (Nancy) Yeadon, Gillian (Justin) Rainey and James Wyche IV. In 1984, Marion insisted that Dorothy accept the invitation to join the W.E.B.DuBois Circle of talented Black women in Baltimore City. She grew to love her association with DuBois Circle members and she gave willingly of her time and talent as they reciprocated by assisting her in her declining years, especially at the loss of her beloved spouse, Marion, in May 2012. In 2006, Dorothy joined Marion as he attended the Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church. Hesitant to join a church in her advanced years because she could not make the extensive physical commitment she once had, Dorothy looked forward to the thought-provoking sermons of Rev. Andrew Foster Connors, the heart-felt prayers and the exceptional choral and instrumental offerings of the choir and organists of Brown. She was a beneficiary of the tender concern and respect of fellow congregants. As her strength waned, she was "lifted" by a team of caring, gentle men on a rotating basis, each Sunday. Her devoted cousin, Roy C. Brown, assumed the "lifter" role for doctor's appointments and he showered her with flowers during his regular visits, discussing family history. In 2008, great-grandchildren arrived and she learned about Dorian, Malakhai, Natalie, Taylor and Eli. Dorothy returned to her role as teacher, identifying areas of strength and concern in each children as she sought and taught; watching as each child developed into his/her own unique person. At Sunrise Senior Living, Dorothy was known for her participation in Bingo, Pokeeno, knitting, sign language lessons and story-tellers writing workshop. She encouraged her caregivers to pursue their dreams, to grow beyond assisting the aged and infirmed while appreciating all of the kind, gentle care she received. The teacher has left the building. The classroom is dark and the blackboard is wiped clean. The playground is empty. The teacher is at rest.

Tributes

Dorothy Brown Bascom

August 14, 1928 - October 31, 2019