Georgia Owens Brownlee

Georgia Owens Brownlee (née Georgia Mae Christine Owens) was born on April 7, 1947, in Damascus, Arkansas. Affectionately known as “Georgie” to family, she was the second born of four children and the eldest daughter of the late Reverend Mason G. Owens and Essie Mae Owens. Her elder brother, Welton, preceded her in death on April 1, 2019. Georgia was a lifelong inspiration and cherished second mother figure to her two younger sisters, Ishmael and Andrea.

Throughout her life, Georgia maintained an unwavering faith in the Lord, abiding love for her family, and an optimistic outlook on the world. In 1953, the Owens family relocated from Arkansas to Los Angeles, California where they attended Emmanuel Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Reverend Amos H. Gaskins. Georgia accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at a very young age. Since 1975, Georgia was an active member of Mount Carmel Holy Assembly Baptist Church, where Reverend Darryl L. Beard presides.

During her educational journey, Georgia cultivated a love of learning. She attended 75th Street Elementary School, Edison Junior High School, and graduated from Horace Mann Junior High School. Upon graduation from Washington High School in 1964, Georgia was determined to continue her studies at the university level and work in a field helping others.

Georgia earned an Associate of Arts degree from Los Angeles City College (LACC), completed a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and obtained a teaching credential from California State University, Los Angeles in 1969. During her undergraduate studies, she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and was an active member of the Epsilon Zeta Chapter at Cal State L.A. Georgia later completed graduate school at Marymount College. While she had broad academic interests in liberal studies and social work, Georgia ultimately dedicated her professional life to the field of teaching.

On May 31, 1970, Georgia joined Edward “Ed” Brownlee in holy matrimony, three months after he completed his military service. Ed preceded her in death on November 26, 2016. From this forty-six-year union, two sons were born; Edward Anthony Brownlee, and Christopher George Brownlee. Georgia delighted in celebrating and recounting with pride her sons’ numerous accomplishments including Anthony’s trailblazing success in Business and accolades in the Automotive Industry, and Chris’s transformative impact in Education and Coaching. Nurturing her sons’ talents and scholastic abilities from birth, she created childhood experiences that sparked their sense of wonder, discovery, and adventure. From taking weekend trips to visit California Missions to traveling to Washington D.C. to visit historic monuments to cheering them on at athletic events, Georgia instilled in her children a firm belief that they could accomplish any goal with hard work, determination, and conviction.

Georgia similarly fostered the brilliance of her students and promoted academic excellence in her distinguished thirty-two-year teaching career in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). From 1970 to 1976, she taught at Century Park Elementary School where she completed an internship in Special Education for three years and then transitioned to teaching third grade. She was the recipient of the “Super Teacher” Award for Area 3 in the LAUSD in 1979. Subsequently, Georgia taught third and fourth grades, and then the gifted and high achiever first, second, and third-grade classes at Figueroa Elementary School from 1976 to 1988. Georgia spent the last twelve years of her career at Teresa Hughes Elementary School.

During her over three-decade-long tenure as an educator, Georgia shaped the minds of generations of elementary school students and made a lasting impact on their intellectual and personal development. Countless cards, letters, notes, and drawings of gratitude she received from students over the years attest to her enduring significance in their lives. As the sentiment on a framed portrait from a former student states, “Forever. Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never ever the same.”

Outside of the classroom, and especially after Georgia retired from teaching in 2002, she pursued many of her creative passions and hobbies. Early in life, she sewed clothes for her sisters and sons. She also enjoyed cooking special meals and loved spending time with family. After retirement, Georgia devoted herself to volunteering in the community, participating actively at church, and caring for others in need. She was also committed to preserving family heirlooms and important artifacts. An avid reader and lifelong learner, most recently, Georgia was passionate about the youngest inaugural National Youth Poet laureate in U.S. history, Amanda Gorman, and looked forward to the day she would run for president. Georgia’s zeal for life, kind smile, and infectious laughter meant she never met a stranger.

In January of 2021, Georgia was diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM). Georgia courageously battled cancer with the same unyielding faith, grace, and peace that exemplified her deep Christian beliefs. Even as she valiantly fought an aggressive brain tumor during a global pandemic, Georgia, the consummate teacher, continued to pray for and encourage others with words of wisdom. While many would have complained, Georgia remained cheerful, expressing gratitude for the gift of life. Not only did she exceed the life expectancy of most with this diagnosis, but she continued to profess her unshakable faith throughout her journey. She never stopped worshiping the Lord. She loved her caregivers and was grateful for her doctors and surgeons. This indomitable spirit characterized Georgia’s faith-filled approach to life and is perhaps her greatest lesson to us all: To live each day with hopeful expectancy and joy, no matter how difficult the circumstances.

Georgia went home peacefully to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday, April 2, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

To cherish her loving memory, she leaves her two sons, Anthony and Chris; daughter-in-law, Shannon; two sisters, Ishmael and Andrea; brother-in-law, John; sister-in-law, Deborah; Ten nieces, Mia, Crystal, Dana, Aisha, Raquel, Taja, Carmen, Torey, Petra and Stacy; three nephews, Vincinti, Sean, and Cameron; a host of great-nieces, and great-nephews; several relatives and countless friends.

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