A Life Story
Frances Salathiel Brown was born on May 26, 1936 to Lula Mae Pinckney and Theodore Riley, in Harlem Hospital, New York. She was a beloved big sister to Edna (Green) Holland, 14 years her junior. As a child, Frances was educated in the New York City public school system. She graduated from Mabel Dean Bacon High School, where she began her cosmetology training. Frances was following the footsteps of her mother, who owned and operated a salon in Harlem, NY., for many years. She and her mother were both ground breakers in the field. Her mother, Lula Mae, became one of the very few successful African-American salon owners. Frances was the first African-American to earn a diploma from her high school's cosmetology program, despite having to endure constant, harsh discrimination practices. Our mother, Frances often spoke of life in Harlem, and the many opportunities that her mother availed to her such as summer camps, modeling school, and the Junior Achievement Program. However, her greatest love was attending the Mary Bruce Dance School (125th St, Harlem NY.). This endeavor afforded her the opportunity to perform at the renowned Carnegie Hall, NY. During Frances' senior year of high school, she met the love of her life, Alfred N. Brown, they were wed one year later, June 18th, 1955, in Queens, NY. Alfred was 22 years and Frances was 19 years old at the time of the marriage. This union produced three lovely daughters. Exactly one month and one day from this marriage Frances began her 36 year career at Creedmoor State Hospital (Queens, NY.). During her time there, she enrolled at York College to elevate her position. She deservingly retired in 1990 to join her newly retired husband in the planned relocation to Savannah, Georgia. Throughout her long and loyal career with Creedmoor State Hospital, her lively and curious spirit prodded her to engage in a variety of many extra employment opportunities. (If you name it, she did it!). Frances leaves to mourn her adoring husband Alfred and Brown (Savannah, GA), Sister, Edna Holland (Valdosta, GA), Three daughters, Eileen Brown-Major (Donald) of Savannah, GA., Sabrina Y. Brown (Savannah, GA), Karleen I. Brown (Savannah, GA), and “Grandma’s Baby”, Grandson Robert Alfred Brown (Azraq Jordan). Frances also leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews.