Charles E. Brown, Sr.

Charles Edward "Professor" Brown (1889-June 30, 1975) was an educator and former president of the Virginia Conference of NAACP Chapters. As a newspaper article reported following his death, Charles E. Brown "was instrumental in building and improving schools in Lackey and Yorktown." His teaching career in York County began in the Reservation community.

Charles Edward Brown
Source: Naval Weapons Station, Yorktown, employee yearbook
Courtesy: Mary Lassiter

A Leader for Education in the Reservation Community

In 1909, Charles E. Brown graduated from Virginia Normal Industrial Institute, now known as Virginia State College. This same year, he became the principal for the Graded School at Charlotte Court House, Virginia. 

As Charles began his teaching career in Charlotte Court House, Mrs. Mary S. Washington began a movement to build a schoolhouse in the Reservation in York County. Parents in the area donated much of the labor to construct a four room frame building. An abanadoned store was transformed into a domestic science room for girls, and the patrons purchased a lodge hall to use as a manual art shop for boys.

Rising Sun School, possibly the school where Charles E. Brown was principal
Courtesy: Navy Mine Depot, Yorktown: Photographs of Buildings, ca. 1919; Box 90; Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Navy), 1799-1950, Record Group 125; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. 

What the school needed was teachers. At this time, Charles E. Brown's work as an educator caught the attention of Dr. Jackson Davis, the State Supervisor for Negro Education. He recommended Charles to lead the school in York County. He accepted and made the Reservation his home in October 1914.  As principal of the school, he oversaw a staff of four additional teachers.

According to Census records, in 1920 Charles was living in the Reservation community as a boarder in the home of John and Martha Taliaferro.

Resilience in Education 

When the U.S. government commandeered the land in the Reservation community following WWI, Charles E. Brown remained principal and was tasked with leading students and educators in resilience.

Immediately following their displacement, classes were generously hosted at the Shiloh Baptist Church until a new school could be built. Using the $6000 received in compensation from the U.S. government, they purchased 5.5. acres of land. The community then raised $4300 through personal contributions, entertainment events, and solicitations, which was augmented by a $1600 donation from the Rosenwald Fund. By 1921, a new school was built and ready for use. It was a six room building that included an auditorium, an office, and cloakrooms. The School would become known as the York County Training School. A one-room schoolhouse was also torn down and reconstructed on the new school site to serve as a manual arts workshop for boys. 

York County Training School, Front entrance, circa 1920s
Courtesy: Johnette Weaver

In this period of rebuilding, Principal Brown also oversaw the expansion of the faculty to seven instructors. At a time when many rural, Black schools offered only 6-7 years of education, the York County Training School also offered two years of high school. Later, two additional instructors wre hired, bringing the faculty to nine, and four years of high school education were offered.

Between 1914 and 1933, Charles E. Brown was a leader for the Reservation community, providing students with expanded opportunities despite the disruption of displacement. 

Family Life

Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Charles E. Brown married Lucy Hobday. The two were married until her death on October 3, 1954. 

Mr. Brown later married Ethel Oliver Fowlkes on July 7, 1956. Ethel passed away on October 18, 1965. 

Scroll through these photos to see the death certificates of Lucy Hobday and Ethel Fowlkes, and the marriage certificate for Ethel Fowlkes and Charles Brown. 

Charles had one son, Charles E. Brown, Jr., one stepson, Quinton E. Fowlkes, and three stepdaughters: Mrs. Bayliss Johnson, Mrs. Joyce Hopson, and Mrs. Mozelle Orange.  

When Charles passed away in 1975, he had eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. 

Leader in the Community

Following his displacement from the Reservation by the U.S. government, Mr. Brown built a legacy of leadership and service to the community. 

Among his many leadership positions in his career and in the community, Charles Brown served as one of the first Black educational advisors for the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934, the first Black supervisor of inventory for the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station, the president of the York County Voter's League, and the president of the Tidewater District Civic Association.

Scroll through the images to view the numerous newspaper articles written about Charles E. Brown's contributions to the community. 

Courtesy: Kya Winbush

Charles E. Brown also served as Branch President for the NAACP-York, James City, Williamsburg branch and as President of the Virginia State Conference of NAACP Chapters.

Charles E. Brown pictured at a meeting of the NAACP, Williamsburg Branch in Grafton, Virginia.   

Back row standing, left to right: Rev. Milton Banks, [unidentified], Rev. Frank Segar, [unidentified], Mr. Edlow, Rev. Samuel L. Massie, Lieutenant Palmer Sr., [unidentified]. 

Middle row seated, left to right: Dotcary Love Rice, Beulah Johnson Wallace or Beulah Wallace Taylor, [unidentified], Ella Mae Judkins. 

Front row, seated, left to right: McKinley T. Whiting, Charles Edward Brown (Branch President), Bessie Jackson."

Courtesy: Media Resources, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation https://rocklib.omeka.net/items/show/373 

A 1970 newspaper article titled "Educator, Civic Leader Honored in York County" honored Charles E. Brown: 

"A pillar in the religious life of the community, he has been widely influential in programs and activities for the betterment of individuals and families- particularly in York County. For Charles E. Brown, life today is a far cry from the two-room schoolhouse of 69 years ago when $20 a month was all he could get."

Source: Educator, Civic Leader Honored In York County New Journal and Guide (1916-); Oct 17, 1970; ProQuest pg. 8

Charles Brown Park 

Two years after Charles' death in 1975, York County names a park in Lackey for Charles E. Brown. The York County website describes the park: 

"This park is named after Charles E. "Professor" Brown, a Lackey resident and former York County schoolteacher who had a keen interest in helping young people. Brown, who died in 1975, was also a past president of the State chapter of the NAACP. Brown Park was the County's first park and the only parkland purchased by the County. "

 Source: York County, Virginia https://www.yorkcounty.gov/1840/Charles-Brown-Park

Scroll through these photos to view images of Brown Park:

Charles E. Brown Park
Courtesy: York County, Virginia https://www.yorkcounty.gov/1840/Charles-Brown-Park

Charles E. Brown passed away at 85 years old on June 30, 1975. 

 



Charles E. Brown death certificate
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

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