Funeral services took place April 29 for Major Brown, Jr., of Jersey City. He died April 23 at Center for Hope Hospice in Scotch Plains. He was born in Robersonville, N.C., the son of the late Evelyn and Major Brown, Sr.
He moved to Newark as a teenager and attended Barringer High School where he excelled in track. After attending Winston Salem College for one year, he moved back to Newark where he attended Panzer College (Montclair State). He met and married Joan D. Tibbs on August 8, 1959, and from this union they were blessed with three daughters Tamara, Tori, and Teryl.
After years of working in various occupations and raising his family, Major decided to return to college. He graduated from Jersey City State College (NJCU) 1983. He began teaching immediately after graduation and continued his education along the way earning his masters degree. He loved the power that education gave and was always willing to go beyond the day to day 8-3 school schedule.
He was a basketball, track, and life coach. He served as head track coach at Lincoln High School for several seasons and later as an assistant coach at Snyder High School, both in Jersey City. Major was a member of JCEA Executive Board and served as the organizations treasurer, director of Hudson County Education Association, member of Phi Delta Kappa, recipient of Andrew Young Black Male Achievement Award, and volunteer for Special Olympics. He was also a member of the JCEA negotiations team. Major also formed the JCEA Bowling League which now bears his name as the JCEA/Major Brown Bowling league. Major annually coordinated the Jersey City Public Schools fund raising efforts for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
His community activities included board member of Team Excel Track Club, he also served as an official at the Garden State Games, JC Sports Fest, Jersey City Track and Field Series, Charlie Mays Invitational, The Courier Times Invitational and Speed City Track and Field series. In fact, this year the Major Brown Invitational for youth will be held in Jersey City, a track meet to provide opportunities for inner city kids. He also was elected as committeeman in his home district.
He is survived by his wife, Joan; daughters Tamara Brown Dorsey (Bennie), Teryl Brown Monderoy (Garth); grandchildren Tiffany Kennedy, Andre D. Wallace, Amber Wallace, Jaren Matthews, Maxwell Monderoy: three great grandchildren Devaughn and Madison Kennedy and Jayden Grant; a goddaughter, Sharon Fields; his sisters in law,Janet Joyner (Earl), Joyce Tolliver Adams, Sharron Sparrow; brothers in-laws William Tolliver (Diana),and James Adams Sr. Aunts, Anne Ohene-twum, Gloria Washington, Uncles, Walter Wilson, and Ronald Wilson, Major was preceded in death by his daughter Tori Anne Matthews. Services arranged by the Carnie P. Bragg Funeral Home, Paterson.