News and Views

Ozeal S. Brown, 94, the wife of the Rev. Arlester Brown, died Oct. 31, 2018, from heart disease. A memorial service was held Dec. 1 at Metropolitan Memorial UMC in Washington, D.C.

Ozeal Shyne was born Feb. 16, 1924, in Homer, La., to the late Rev. Charles Howard Sr. and Lucille Harris Shyne, one of six children. She received a B.S. degree from Grambling State University and an M.S. from Hampton University in Virginia. She did advanced studies at Harvard and a summer course in Manchester, England. She was a devoted educational professional.

At age 21, she was a recipient of the Outstanding Service Award for her contributions to the teaching profession. She taught social studies and English. And since then, she received many awards including the Mary McLeod Bethune Award from the National Council of Negro Women; she was a lifetime member.

She married her best friend, the Rev. Arlester Brown, August 29, 1949.

They moved to Washington, D.C., in 1969 for him to attend seminary. He held a string of appointments: the Petworth Association, Brookland, Sharp Street, then from 1975 to 1983, with the CME New York-Washington Conference.  In 1983, he transferred to the Baltimore-Washington Conference and pastored St. Paul UMC in Oxon Hill, 1983-1986; Hughes UMC in D.C., 1986-1988; Albright UMC in D.C., 1988-1991, at which time he retired. In 2008, he served Asbury UMC in Germantown.

Ozeal Brown was a reading program specialist for the D.C. public schools and the University of the District of Columbia in the 1970s and 1980s. She worked for the D.C. Department of Education in the Title I Reading Program. She was a consultant/director of the Model School Reading Program, a staff development resources/reading specialist, and worked on program for seven District of Columbia universities.

She authored several articles on education and leadership, including “Effective Change in Student Behavior.”

Brown spent eight years at the White House Communications Office during the Clinton Administration. She rode on Air Force One with the President to attend the 50^thgraduation anniversary for her husband at Grambling State University in Louisiana.

In early 1980, Brown joined National Presbyterian Church and served as a leader in the Women’s Association, as a Deacon and a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Guild. She was also on the Board of Directors of IONA Senior Services.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and a sister.

Survivors include her husband of 69 years, a sister Florence Shyne Bowers and her brother Joe C. Shyne, nieces and nephews.

Condolence may be sent to Rev. Arlester Brown, 3001 Veazey Terrace, NW, #533, Washington, D.C. 20008.