Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 4-30-19

Features
First Black Manager For Local Restaurant Dies
MRS. MIRIAM JOHNSON BROWN 9/27/1958 --- 4/22/2019
‘The Choice Bus’ Makes First Visit To Tampa
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
This week, students will have an opportunity to visit a unique bus. The vehicle will visit four locations.
Known as “The Choice Bus,” will make its first ap- pearance in the Tampa Bay Area. The students who board the bus will have an opportunity to receive a first- hand look at the choice be- tween a productive life and one of criminal confinement.
The event is sponsored by the Mattie C. Stewart Foun- dation and State Farm.
The Choice Bus will visit the following loca- tions from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.:
Tuesday, April 30th, Sligh Middle School, 2011 E. Sligh Avenue, Tampa, 33610;
Wednesday, May 1st, Brandon Epic3, 1015 North Parsons Avenue, Seffner, FL 33584;
Thursday, May 2nd, North Tampa Epic3, 8602 North Armenia Av-
THE CHOICE BUS
HUBERT SMITH
enue, Tampa, 33604; and
Friday, May 3rd, Jen- nings Middle School, 9325 Governors Run Drive, Seffner, FL 33584.
In one area of the bus, the students can learn how a col- lege education can benefit them during the course of their lives, earning at least $1 million. They will have an op- portunity to visit the half- classroom of the bus that focuses on education.
The second-half of the
bus is a prison cell. It also shows students what lies ahead for the uneducated and unproductive.
The bus is one of six tools created by The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation which is devoted to helping reduce the dropout rate in the United States.
Hubert Smith said, “This is the first time this bus has been in Tampa. But, it has a powerful message and we want the students to see what is ahead of them with- out an education.”
Ms. Sherri Stewart,
Executive Director of The Mattie C. Stewart Founda- tion said, “When students board The Choice Bus, they get to experience what life is actually like from two differ- ent points of view. It helps students dig deep into think- ing about their futures based on the decisions they will make.
“Connecting education to future lifetime earning po- tential and career goals is what we strive to encourage.”
Dr. Shelley Stewart,
Founder and President of The Mattie C. Stewart Foun- dation said, “We are proud to work with State Farm to spread the message of educa- tion to Florida, illustrating to students the uncut vision of what poor choices lead to can help them think about their actions. Our mission is to continue spreading the power of education to our youth across the nation.”
Since 2008, The Choice Bus has visited more than 2,000,000 students in 25 states. To learn more about the Mattie C. Stewart Foun- dation, visit www.mattiec- stewart.org.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
A popular Tampa wife, mother, and daughter passed away recently. She was 60 years old.
A Tampa native, Mrs. Miriam Johnson Brown was the oldest of five children and the only daughter of Mrs. Essie Dooley.
Mrs. Johnson attended the public schools of Hillsbor- ough County and graduated from Robinson High School at the age of 16. She then en- rolled at Hillsborough Com- munity College, where she majored in Accounting. She also took several other courses in finances and ac- counting.
At the age of 15, she ob- tained employment at Burger King Restaurant. During her tenure, she was sent to man- agement school and became the first African American manager for the chain.
She was also a member of St. Stephens Catholic Church. Mrs. Brown met and married Harry Lee Brown and to that union, three chil- dren were born. She dedi-
cated the remainder of her life to being a housewife and mother.
Mr. Brown preceded her in death.
Mrs. Dooley said her daughter loved to travel and loved being with people. She also took great pride in her appearance. “She was an all- around young lady,” her mother said.
She had been involved in a very serious accident that re- quired her to learn to walk again. “God brought her through that serious accident. She walked again and she re- covered from it.”
Mrs. Brown became ill suddenly, and was trans- ported to a local hospital, where she later died.
“She truly was my rock. But God doesn’t make mis- takes,” Mrs. Dooley said.
In addition to her mother and three children, Mrs. Brown is survived by 3 brothers, (1 deceased), other family members and friends.
Funeral services were in- complete at press time. Aikens Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrange- ments.
PAGE 2 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2019