Geraldine Brown 'Gerry' Harrison

Geraldine Brown Harrison passed away on February 3, 2024, at the age of 83. 

Geraldine (“Gerry”) was one of 6 children born to Otis Brown and Louise Brown on March 15, 1940.  Gerry is survived by her children Milton, LaTonya and Jamal, her sister Peggy, brothers-in-law Ernest and Bill, sisters-in law Karen and Johnnie and many dear aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Gerry grew up in Pleasant Hill, North Carolina and graduated from Seaboard High School in Seaboard, NC.  She then attended the all-girls Bennett College in Greensboro, NC, visiting the family home in Philadelphia on college breaks and graduating from Bennett in 1961 with a Bachelor’s in Physical Education and a Master’s Degree in Math. 

It was at Bennett while drinking at a water fountain that Gerry first laid eyes on and met her soon-to-be husband, Milton, who was attending the co-educational North Carolina A&T College in Greensboro, NC at the time. 

After graduating from Bennett, Gerry taught mathematics to middle schoolers in Virginia.

Milton and Gerry got married on June 30, 1962 in Philadelphia, PA, and moved to Detroit, Michigan that same year, and then Scottsdale, Arizona in 1986.  Milton and Gerry enjoyed 54 years together before Milton’s passing in 2016.   

After moving to Detroit, Michigan in 1962, Gerry taught mathematics in the Detroit Public School System, eventually landing at the famous “Mumford High School” featured in the first “Beverly Hills Cop” movie starring Eddie Murphy. 

In 1986, Gerry, her beloved husband Milton and the 3 children moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and Gerry became a Professor of Mathematics at Mesa Community College, where she remained until her retirement in 2002.

All in all, Gerry spent over 40 years teaching mathematics to thousands of middle school, high school and community college students in Virginia, Michigan and Arizona. 

Gerry treasured family and deeply loved her children. She was very active in politics and enjoyed serving on democratic committees and working at the polls on voting day.  She loved cooking, reading, politics, conversation, family dinners at the dining table and sports!

In her sunset years, Gerry did a lot of volunteer work at her Church in Phoenix, AZ, First Institutional Baptist Church, and for various Democratic political committees, even serving as head manager/organizer of her neighborhood voting center on Presidential Election Days. 

No matter how far she travelled from her town of birth, Gerry absolutely loved attending the homecoming every year she could at Faithful Band Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill, NC.

Ever the supporter of the endeavors of those around her, Gerry supported her husband Milton and together they owned and operated Golden Palms Arabians, a farm of over 14 Arabian horses and showed them in Scottsdale and USA horse shows, being one of the first African-American owned horse stables in Arizona, USA.

Gerry was the ever-supporter of her children’s endeavors as well, always willing to lend a kind, listening ear or financial support for those “realistic” self-employment endeavors of her beloved children.

Gerry touched many souls throughout the course of her 83 years. She was authentic and believed in the inherent goodness within people and truly lived a life of humbleness, love, kindness, compassion, honesty and integrity.

She survived the ordeals of losing her brother Otis while very young, the loss of her beloved husband Milton in 2016 after 54 years together, and two bouts with cancer starting in 2022, all the while still exuding a remarkable gratitude, ease, grace, humbleness and appreciation for life with all its twists and turns.

Gerry loved people and visits, and was always interested in how you were doing, whether you were her child, relative, friend or community neighbor. 

Geraldine Brown Harrison: 

A loving Mother and Friend …
… a Phenomenal Woman.

She is and will be deeply missed.

Relatives and Friends are encouraged to visit Mrs. Harrison's tribute wall to share memories, extend condolences and to order floral tributes, as sentiments to the family. 

The Caring Team of T. L. Faison's Funeral Care, LLC is privileged to provide

"Professional Care, With Dignity & Integrity" 

to the family of Mrs. Geraldine Brown Harrison.

We ask that you unite with us in remembering the family in both thought and prayer. 

***TO ENSURE DESIRED FLORAL SELECTIONS AND A TIMELY DELIVERY,

PLEASE PLACE ORDERS THE DAY PRIOR TO THE FIRST VIEWING OF DECEASED***

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