Vida Mae Brown

Vida Henry Brown was born on December 1, 1942 at the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital & Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY to Arnold and Florette Callender Henry. To this union was born three children (Verna, Grace and Vida, the youngest.) Vida was predeceased by her parents and both of her sisters. At a young age and for four years, Vida lived abroad with her aunt and husband (Pastor John and Vida Williams) along with their daughter Florette. Their travels included Belize, British Honduras, Guatamala, Mexico and Jamaica. Upon her return to the United States, she attended and graduated from Oakwood Academy with Honors, obtained a BA in English and later a MS in Special Education, both from Brooklyn College. Vida worked as a Nurse’s Aide at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital before beginning her professional career. She started her educational career as a Paraprofessional and then progressed to become a Special Education Teacher with the NYC Board of Education for 38 years. After retiring from her dream job with the NYC Board of Ed, she continued to work, love and support any youth and/or children that crossed her path. In addition to her family, Vida had three loves that were very important to her: The Bethel Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Brooklyn NY, Children and Music. She was always excited to sing duet with her mother, to perform with the Les Chanson (quintet) and to carol with The Foundation Trio which was also known as The Sisters. Vida attended Bethel during the church’s early and formative years. After officially becoming a member by baptism at the age of 12, she began a lifelong commitment focusing on the youth and children within the Bethel Church, the Bethel Church School and the surrounding communities. Some of the positions that she held while at Bethel SDA Church were: Junior Usher, member of the Youth Choir, Counselor for the Bethel Trailblazer Pathfinder, member of the Senior Choir, Sabbath School Teacher, Assistant Bible Worker, Assistant Leader of the Missionary Volunteers, Children’s Story Teller and Coordinator, Children’s Day Speaker, Chairperson of the Welcome Home Children Reunion and she was a Master Guide. She was a steward for God and remained active and connected to the church members until her health began to fail. Vida leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter, April (Julian), her nieces, Sherri and LaVerne, grandnephew Melvin (Barbara), great grandnephew, Ace, former step-children Fay, Ray (Didi), Everett (Waveney), and step-grandchildren Chad, David, Keyon, Kevin, Karen and several others that she helped in their upbringing and treated them as she would have her own children. Vida’s extended family, honorary family members, church family, friends, and colleagues will always remember her.

Vida Mae Brown

December 1, 1942 - March 22, 2022