Catherine Elizabeth Brown
Catherine Elizabeth Brown (affectionately known to many as “Cat”) was born in Milledgeville, Georgia on October 8, 1924, and was the only beloved child of Ella Landrum Coplin.
She spent her early childhood years in Milledgeville with her grandmother, Nancy Austin Landrum, until she moved to Ft. Myers, Florida to join her mother. She was a resident of Ft. Myers for more than 70 years. She graduated from Dunbar High School on May 28, 1943.
Her career dream was always to attend Grady Hospital School of Nursing at Georgia State University in Atlanta to become a nurse. Due to her mother’s ill health, she instead turned her dream into dedicated devotion of service, love and care to her mother, children, community, and church.
She worked for the Lee County School Board for 30 years in the school cafeteria system. In 1999, the School Board of Lee County awarded her with a Certificate of Appreciation for “devoted and invaluable service to the students of Lee County Public Schools” and a Special Commendation for 30 years of service.
Catherine Brown was the first African-American to be employed by the Walgreens Corporation in Ft. Myers, where again she was a dedicated employee and was recognized for more than 30 years of service. She retired from Walgreens in her eighties.
For her community work, in 1995 she was recognized by the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. with their “Achievement Award for Community Service”. In 2000, she was presented with the award of “Amica of the Year” by the ETA Alpha Zeta Chapter, and in 2001, was presented with the Amicae Pioneer Award.
Sister Brown, her mother, Ella Coplin and her stepfather, Jerome Coplin were all longstanding members of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. She was an active member of Friendship’s Sunday School Class #3 and the Vintage Ministry at Mount Olive A.M.E. Church.
She was a member of Eastern Star, Ixora Club, and Eta Alpha Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Amicae of Ft. Myers.
Catherine Brown was loved by many and will be missed by all. She was a loving mother to Lorenzo B. Swain (deceased) and Patricia A. Made; grandmother to Lorenzo Swain Jr., Lorenzo-Che Made, Karimanjira Made, and Soko Made.
She will live on in the hearts of her daughter-in-law, Florence Swain; son-in-law, Dr. Joseph M. Made; godson, Carlton Bronson, and in the hearts of her great grandchildren, in-laws, in Ft. Myers and in Zimbabwe, and in the hearts of a host of cousins, other relatives, and dear friends.
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