Jane P. Brown

Dr. Jane P. Brown left her family peacefully at the age of 90 years. She was devoted to her family and life-long love of education and community.

Jane was an educator, administrator and served her community as an elected trustee for the Village of Hazel Crest and board member of the Grande Prairie Library.

Jane married Jerome Brown (Skip) and they were married for 32 years.  Jane and Skip had three children, Christine, Stephen (Margie) and Lynn (Robin).  Five wonderful grandchildren, Kristyn, Jerome (Shay), Joelle, Justin, and Stephanie, and three beautiful great-grandchildren Carter, Brayden and Arya Jane.

Jane graduated from high school at the age of 16 and went on to then earn her bachelor's degree, master's degree and finally her doctorate.

Jane was the first black woman in the Greater Chicago Area to be an Owner/Operator of a McDonalds franchise and was a member of the Black McDonald Owners Association (BMOA).  she was selected by her peers as the winner of the prestigious "Gold Hat Award ".

During her career Dr. Brown had been a Preschool teacher, Executive Director, Deputy Director, President of the Illinois Head Start Day Care Association and Director of Social Services and Director of Resource Development for CEDA.

Jane served on US Secretary of State's Shultz and Baker Minority Committee for the Middle East, Central and South America and South Africa.  Jane had her own consulting business and was owner of several small businesses.

Jane was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Pi Sigma Delta Ballet Sorority through The Mildred Haessler Ballet group, The South Suburban Link's, Inc. (Charter member), Cofounder of South Suburban Chicago Chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc.,  The South Suburban Genealogical Association, Homewood-Flossmoor League of Women Voters, Alumni Board Governor State University, University of Illinois Chicago's Urban Health Advisory Board, the South Suburban Hospital Community Health Advisory Board, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and the Diversity Committee for the South Suburbs and served on the board for the South Cook County Girl Scouts.

She loved to entertain and spending time with family and friends.  She was a member of several social bridge Clubs, History Clubs, and the Posse – and took an informal title, "The Queen of Diamonds." She was also a Mentor Advisory Member of the social and community give-back group called The Grand Slam Ma'ams whose motto is A Club with a Heart. She was a cofounder of the Chatham Jrs and Srs a mother-daughter group that she joined with both of her daughters.  The group did chartable work which culminated with her daughters' becoming debutants who were presented in beautiful cotillions.

Jane grew up with her 2 sisters, Lavinia and Gwendolyn.  They were very close and talked on the phone daily, joined clubs together and danced ballet together.  Not only were they sisters they were best friends.

Jane was very proud of her family and her incredibly fascinating and well documented ancestral family history.

Visitation Saturday January 6, 2024 from 9am until the time of services at 10:30am at the Tews-Ryan Funeral Home 18230 Dixie Highway in Homewood. Interment to follow at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. For further information contact tews-ryanfh.com or call 708-798-5300.

TO VIEW THE LIVESTREAM OF THE FUNERAL SERVICE FOR DR. JANE P. BROWN BEGINNING ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 AT 10:30 A.M., PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:

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