Berneatha Brown

The Governor of South Carolina advises to limit public gatherings to 50 guests or less to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Smith Funeral Home of Florence, LLC carefully considered this recommendation and ask that additional guest please participate via live-streaming if it is authorized by the family.

Private Funeral Service for Mrs. Berneatha “Dickie” Brown will be conducted 11:00 AM Monday, July 20, 2020 at Church of Christ, 1303 Sunset Boulevard, Columbia, South Carolina. Interment will follow in Nettles Cemetery, directed by Smith Funeral Home of Florence, LLC.

Mrs. Berneatha “Dickie” Brown, 97 was born July 19, 1923 to John Dickie and Susan Singleton Dickie in Kingstree, South Carolina. On Tuesday, July 14, 2020, “Dickie” as she was affectionately called departed this life and went home to be with the Lord at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina.

Berneatha attended the Public Schools in Williamsburg County and was a graduate of Tomlinson High School in Kingstree, South Carolina. Upon graduation, she furthered her education at South Carolina State University.

At an early age, Berneatha became a member of Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Kingstree, South Carolina. After relocating to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she joined Second Baptist Church in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Berneatha was joined in marital bliss to the late Willie Wycliffe Brown, the love of her life for 65 years.

In 2003, Berneatha and her husband relocated to Columbia, South Carolina. She was the oldest member of the Louise D. Simmons American Legion Auxiliary Post #215 in Columbia, South Carolina.

Berneatha sponsored two African girls from Junior High through College. One remained in the United States and the other one returned to Liberia, West Africa. She was Past Vice President of the South Carolina State University Philadelphia Alumni Chapter. She began her teaching career at Wilson High School in Florence, South Carolina as an English Teacher. After relocating to Philadelphia in 1951 she worked for the School District of Philadelphia in several positions. She taught at Vaux Junior High School before completing her Masters Degree in Counseling from Temple University becoming a Guidance Counselor at West Philadelphia High School. She retired in 1986 from a position in the Division of Career and Vocational Education at the Board of Education. She was an active member and Past Chairman of the National Society of Phi Delta Kappa, Incorporation Zeta Chapter Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended Saint Paul Baptist Church of Philadelphia for 40 years. While attending Second Baptist Church of Germantown, she was on numerous committees and was Chairman of the Scholarship Committee for at least 15 years raising thousands of dollars for deserving youth. She was Past President of the Philadelphia Northwest Chapter of AARP #280.

Berneatha was predeceased by her husband, Willie Wycliffe Brown; her parents, John Dickie and Susan Singleton Dickie; and three sisters, Mary Singleton Johnson, Luvenia “Freddie” Singleton Fulton, and Decema Singleton Wallace.

Berneatha leaves to cherish her memories: two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Brown Anderson and Dorothy White; Glenda Wilder who she called daughter; 17 nieces and nephews, Susie (James) Gamble, Jacqueline (Harry) Doby, Fredrecka (Donald) Thompson, Nancy (Johnthan) Bright, Sheila (Oscar) Newkirk-Squire, Jerome (Joan) Fulton, Theodore (Joann) Fulton, Reginald (Denise) Fulton, Walter (Deloris) Leonard McLeod, Edward Wilson, Robert Hill, Sr., Anderlynn Cummings, Allen Brown, Jr., Eddie Brown, Allyson Brown, Carolyn Holness, and Viveca Lovett; 12 grand nieces and nephews; 41 great-grand nieces and nephews; 34 great great-grand nieces and nephews; and 1 great great-great-grand niece, Kinsley B. Livingston. Our aunt was blessed to see 6 generations of our descendants.

Please keep the family of Berneatha "Dickie" Brown in your thoughts and prayers.

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