Baby advocate gives awards
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
The Chronicle was among the recipients of awards from the Outreach Alliance for
Babies, a nonprofit organization that provides clothing and other necessities to infants
whose families are facing financial challenges.
The organization also promotes learning by providing board books for parents and
caregivers to read to babies, supports safety by distributing safe-sleep literature and
donates new car seats.
The nonprofi says it has provided for more than 2,400 babies since its inception in
2005. The families of the babies must participate in a community agency that provides
services for babies and parents.
Karl Yena, a retired RJR Nabisco executive who works annually with over 100 non
profits in North Carolina, spoke at the banquet.
He said he is awed by babies' tenderness and what they can become.
"It's our job to help them reach their God-given potential," Yena said.
Besides The Chronicle, the following are the other recipients of awards, which were
given on Thursday, March 26:
?In memoriam. Dr. Simon Green Atkins and wife, Oleona Pegram Atkins, accepted
by Simona Atkins Allen, granddaughter; and George H. Black, accepted by Sonya
Weaks Black, great-granddaughter.
?Dr. Harvey Allen, accepted by Simona Atkins Allen, spouse.
?Children's Law Center of North Carolina, accepted by Executive Director Iris
Sunshine and Amy Kuhlman, co-founder and director of operations.
?Dr. Serenus Chum, accepted by Vera Stepp.
?Annie Brown Kennedy.
?Florence Corpening.
?Katisha Blackwell/Family Blueprints of North Carolina.
Some highlights of Geneva Brown's life
'She received a bachelor's degree in fine arts and Master of Science degree in educa
tion from N.C. A&T State University.
*She received her certification in Elementary Education from Winston-Salem State Uni
versity and certification in Schodl Administration from UNC-Greensboro.
"She studied at UCLA for six years before opening Moore Laboratory School in 1971.
'She was chosen to open Moore Laboratory School, the school system's first open con
cept, non-graded multi-age grouping, year round school ? the first magnet school in
Winston-Salem. She retired from Moore after 19 years.
*ln addition to being Principal of the Year, she was recognized for her service on the
N.C. Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
i
Brown
from page Al
school system.
"She did spend a lot of time with her
teachers and her students," her daughter
said. "I think that's a big part of her life."
She worked in the Winston
Salem/Forsyth County School System
from 1954 to 1992 in various positions,
retiring from the system after working in
the front office.
Brown had students who would come
up to her and say hello, praise her, thank
her and tell stories about their interaction
with her, her daughter said.
In 1992. she was elected
to the Winston
Salem/Forsyth County
Board of Education, where
she served for 18 years. She
retired in 2011.
When Geneva Brown
was on the school board,
her focus was to "provide
the best environment for
students and help parents do
the best they can," Wynne
Brown said. She also was
concerned about the staff
and teachers at the schools,
regardless of their race.
"She knew there were
disparities in the system and
there still are," but she
spoke out to try to change
the system, her daughter
said. She tried to make sure
all had the same opportuni
ty
"She didn't get to where
she was by tiptoeing
through the system," her
daughter said. "She learned
the system and mastered it."
In fact, that is what
Geneva Brown did through
out her life. She mastered
whatever she took on.
Take athletics.
Geneva Brown was an
athlete in her younger years,
playing Softball and basket
ball. She later turned to golf
and played with her hus
band of 44 years, Wendell
Delworth Brown, before he
died. She won many
awards. She even
announced the top 30
golfers in the world at the
Master's Tournament in
Augusta, Georgia, for three
years. She was a member of
Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc.
sorority and was director of
the AKA annual golf tour
nament for 10 years.
All of the work Geneva
Brown did was bolstered by
"a divine connection that
carried her," Wynne Brown
said.
She was a member of
First Baptist Church,
Highland Avenue, since
1955, serving as a Sunday
school and Bible Study
teacher, trustee, deaconess,
and a member of the
Women's Service Council.
"She had challenges; we
all do," Wynne Brown said.
"But she never let that stop
her."Many might not know
another aspect of Geneva
Brown, her daughter said.
She was "very kind,
compassionate and
extremely sensitive."
^The April 25 celebration
at Atktm will have a formal
program, designed to
????___________________
represent various aspects of her moth
er's life, Wynne Brown said.
"She couldn't be contained in a box, so
we hope to capture some of that in the
memorial."
Wynne Brown said her mother's lega
cy is an enduring one.
"Our community will never be the
same," she said. "We can't go back." i
To see the full obituary of Geneva
Brown, go to httpJtwwwjclarksbrownand- i
sons .comlObituaries!Obits .html/.
Tim Sturgis, PrografTi Manager/The Shalom Project.
?Carrie Scott and Valerie Glass, co-founders
of Diaper Bank of N.C.-Greater Triad.
?Hernando Ramirez-Santos/Que Pasa Media.
?Russell Funeral Home/Carmen Russell Bonham.
?Dr. Sylvia A. Flack.
Triad Dream Center/Pastor Michael Watson.
Donna Rogers, left and
center, managing editor
of The Chronicle,
accepts the award from
the Outreach Alliance
for Babies for The
Chronicle and Publisher
Ernie Pitt. At right is
Linda Hege, chair
woman of the nonprof
it's board, and at left is
Phyllis Bonds, executive
director of the nonprof
it.
Photo by Erin Mizelle for
The Chronicle
[LastGive-AwayattheReynoldsPk Rd Sltel j
NO RESTRICTIONS ON ,
VEHICLES TO BE LOADED ?
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
From 1-40, take Hwy 52 North [from Business-40, take Hwy
52 South] to RAMS Dr. and left at top of ramp, take right I
onto M. L. King Jr. Dr., take left onto Reynolds Park Rd.
after passing the recreation center, take immediate right '
onto paved street and proceed left to enter fenced-in area. >
NORTH CAROLINA'S
Pre-College Program
NC-MSEN ^
The Center for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (CMSTE)
MC Mathematics and Science Education Network (NC-MSEN)
2015 Summer Scholars Pre-Colleae Program
I Voted 2nd in the 2014 Winston-Salem Journal Newspaper Readers Choice Awards for
Best Summer Camp
I For Middfe and High School Students (grades 6-12) who are interested in pursuing caree
in science, mathematics, technology, engineering, and teaching.
I ? Promoting Exceience in Mathematics and Science Education
? Academic Instruction & Activities in Mathematics & Science
? Field Trip : Atlanta, 6A - Atlanta University Consortium Center (Clark Atlanta,
I Speiman & Morehouse); MLK National Historic Park; Georgia Aquarium; World of Coke;
I CNN Center/Olympic Park; Six Flags Over Georgia
I 201S Summer Program Dates:
June 15 -26,2015; 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m.
Residential* fill " iftHfllfhf "I'linn miililili
I n ? ' iMc.
| Payment Options are available
For further mfbrmatio**txgrt the program and online enrollment please refer to the
? aniiiWr: www.wsu.eddT^msen and select Summer Scholars or call 336-7sn.?oo?