Jetta Belle Parks Brown

JETTA BELLE PARKS BROWN
April 7, 1929 - June 16, 2012

On June 16,2012 Jetta Belle Parks Brown, beloved daughter of the late Ernest C. Parks and Hilda H. Parks, passed away in Columbia, Md. of natural causes. She was 83 years old. Jetta Belle was born on April 7, 1929 in Pocomoke City, Md. Her family later moved to Salisbury, Md. where she attended Wicomico High School and later attended Salisbury State Teachers College. At Salisbury State she earned a degree in education and was also elected by her peers as May Queen for her beauty, poise, and intelligence. In 1951 Jetta Belle married James Paul Brown, Jr., a marine sergeant who served his country in the Pacific in WWII and in Korea. They raised their family in Wheaton and Silver Spring. Md.

A lifelong teacher in the Montgomery County, Md. school system, Jetta Belle loved and advocated for her students, and especially loved the fifth graders. She had high expectations for her pupils and taught them to believe in themselves. She was a local pioneer in working with learning disabled children. She earned her master's degree in special education from the University of Maryland, which gave her the tools to help them. Jetta Belle taught many dyslexic children to read, which she considered the key to their future success in life. Jetta Belle was a beautiful woman, an excellent student, a devoted daughter, a great friend, a dedicated educator, and a wonderful mother and grandmother. She was fiercely independent, deeply spiritual, loyal, private, stubborn, and very kind. Her best legacy is perhaps that she loved everyone's children ... not just her own.

Jetta Belle leaves behind a loving family which includes her daughter, Jill Alison (Brown) Coker, her son-in-law, William E. Coker, and her son, Jeffrey Parks Brown, as well as eight grandchildren: Scott Thomas Lietzau, Christopher Addison Lietzau, Stephanie Burchard Lietzau, Allison Beth Coker, Michael Andrew Coker, Michael Harrison Brown, Melanie Joy Brown, and Jessica Emily Brown. She is also lovingly survived by Winnie Grace Horn of Salisbury, Md., Arthur Parks of Parsonsburg, Md., and Lynwood Parks of Augusta, Missouri.

Jetta Belle will be buried in a private ceremony on the Eastern Shore where she grew up. Her memorial service will be on Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 3:00 PM at the Liberty Grove United Methodist Church located at 15225 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, Md. 20866.

Donations may be made to her favorite charity, Joseph House of the Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary, P.O. Box 1755 , Salisbury, Md. 21802.

Her family thanks you for your prayers, your love, and your support.