Obituary of Betty Jo Robinson Brown

A Celebration of Life

Mrs. Betty Jo Robinson Brown of Washington, DC was born September 10, 1948 to the late Mrs. Mary Lee Cureton Robinson and the late Hayward Lee Robinson, Sr. in Rock Hill, S.C. On June 26, 2020, she passed away at Washington Hospital Center. She is predeceased by four brothers, Hayward Lee Robinson, Jr., Earnest Robinson, Marion Robinson, and Charles Robinson, grandparents, the late Mrs. Lula Miller Cureton and Mr. Mack Cureton, and the late Mrs. Alice C. Robinson and Mr. Willie Robinson.

Growing up in Rock Hill, S.C., Betty attended New Mount Olivet A.M.E. Zion Church and a 1966 honor graduate of Emmett Scott High School. Betty attended Livingstone College where she was Woman of the Year during her matriculation and received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, with honors, in 1970. She continued her studies at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she received a Master of Business Administration degree, with a concentration in Financial Accounting in 1972. For several years, she worked as a Controller and a Senior Financial & Accounting Manager for the DC Government & private firms. She retired as the Fiscal Analyst Coordinator from The Howard University College of Dentistry in 2011. While at Howard University, she mentored, advised, and aided many students through her tenure and was recognized for her dedication and exemplary service.

In the community, she was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, the Red Hat Society, and the National Black MBA – DC Chapter. Betty also worked diligently on the mayoral campaigns for both Marion Barry and Vincent C. Gray, Sr. and held leadership positions in school and community organizations. She was kind, attentive, and generous toward others. She enjoyed spending time with her daughters, family and friends, cooking, watching football games, traveling, being active in social groups, and listening to R&B and jazz music.

Betty was a devoted and loving mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend. To cherish her memories are daughters, Mary Jamila Brown and Miriam Elisabeth Arlene Brown,  brother, James Floyd Robinson, sister, Lula Mae Robinson, a nephew raised in the home, Donald Foster, sisters-in-laws, Jannie Robinson and Estelle Robinson, daughters‘ father, Arthur Stokes Brown, Jr. and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and dear relatives and friends. She will be deeply missed.

Love and Peace