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Helena Brown Walsh, A.K.A Beatrice Omega McKinney Brown, born July 22, 1932 in Bristol, VA, passed away in Allen, TX on January 3, 2019, after a long illness at the age of 86.
Helena’s birth name was Beatrice Omega McKinney, the oldest child of Simon Taft McKinney and Gracie Emma Livingston McKinney.
With a lifelong passion for the arts, young “Omega” McKinney sang in the school choir and took art classes during her college years. In 1948, she graduated from Douglass High School in Bristol, VA at the age of 15 and headed off to receive her Bachelor of Science degree at Tuskegee Institute (now known as Tuskegee University) from which she graduated in 1952 with a degree in Home Economics, focusing on Child Development, Nursery School and Supervisor Training.
During college, she was a member of the Tuskegee Institute Choir, President of Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) from 1950 - 51 and served as Student Leader on the Personnel Advisory Board, frequently representing Tuskegee at educational meetings at other colleges.
Upon graduating from Tuskegee, Omega set off to train and gain work experience in the U.S. Army; Medical Corp. She received Surgical Technician Training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. She later transferred to Fort Ord Army Hospital near Monterey, CA to serve as a Supervisor. It was at Fort Ord where she met her husband, Arthur LaGrone Brown, whom she married in 1953 and became a resident of Marin City, CA. From this union, three children were born; Jimmie Glen, Terrie Louise, and Kellie Anderson.
Beatrice Omega Brown began her teaching career in 1957 as an elementary school teacher at Marin City School, part of the Sausalito School District. In 1965, when President Lyndon B Johnson signed into law the Head Start Preschool Program, Beatrice setup the Head Start Program in Marin City as the first Director. She missed working directly with her students, whom she lovingly called her ‘children’ and later went back to teaching in the classroom. Helena Brown Walsh A.K.A Beatrice Omega Brown was a teacher in the Sausalito School District for 22 years, before retiring due to illness.
In the late 1960’s Beatrice began exploring religious studies and made the decision to legally change her first name to “Helena,” for religious reasons. Helena Omega Brown later met her second husband, William Francis Walsh. From this union, one child was born; Michael Jason.
Though illness prevented her from returning to the classroom, that didn’t stop her from continuing her passions for educating and mentoring young people. In 1990, she moved to Plano, TX to be closer to her daughter and first grandchildren. It was there she got involved with the Plano Public Libraries’ Literacy for Life program, helping adult learners to become productive members of the community by building literacy skills and self-esteem. She also returned to her love of art by way of classes offered at the Plano Senior Center. In addition to the many portraits and graphic artwork she enjoyed creating, for several years, her family and friends were blessed with her beautifully designed, hand-drawn Christmas cards.
Helena will be forever remembered as a loving, sharp-witted, kind and encouraging mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandma, teacher & best friend.
Preceding Helena in death were her Father, Simon Taft McKinney, Mother, Gracie Emma Livingston McKinney, first husband Arthur Brown, second husband William Walsh and son Kellie Anderson Brown. She is survived by her sisters Doris Juanita Green and Gracie Mae Stover, son Jimmie G. Brown in Santa Cruz, CA, daughter Terrie L. (Eddie) Slaughter in Wylie, TX and son Michael J. Walsh in Atlanta, GA.
Helena will also be deeply missed by her grandchildren Erica, Kelsey (Riley), Evan, Bridget & Junnifer, along with her great-grandchildren Bailey, Preston, Emilio, Carmen & Miguel and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and great-cousins, and wonderful friends.
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