Obituary for Gwendolyn K. Brown
Gwendolyn Kleckley Brown
A wife, mother, friend, sister, grandmother, encourager, motivator, advisor, visionary teacher, playwright, director, and coordinator.
Gwendolyn Patricia Mitchell Kleckley Brown, was born September 20, 1949 to Gloria and Willie H. Mitchell. She was a life-long resident of the Jacksonville community. Gwen went to be with the Lord on February 19, 2020.
Gwen was educated in Duval County Public Schools, graduating from Stanton Vocational High School in 1967, followed by attending Florida State College at Jacksonville. She obeyed the gospel of Christ on April 6, 1975, at the Northside Church of Christ, where she worked in multiple ministries. She was a bible school teacher in the education ministry and worked with the special programs ministry. While working with the special programs ministry, Gwen wrote magnificent plays that brought the house down, year after year, at the Northside Church of Christ. She wrote motivating plays about Black History, but she brought to life the scriptures with plays such as the “Prodigal Son” and “Jesus Yesterday, Today, and Forever, Dear God-I’m Only Seventeen.” She coordinated and decorated storybook weddings for many years. She was so talented and passionate about it that she opened an event planning business called “Special Occasions.” Even after the doors of the business closed, she continued to create beautiful special occasions for so many family and friends. Throughout the years, she taught family members how to create special occasions for everyone because she believed that everyone deserves to feel special.
Gwen spent eight years serving our country in the United States Army Reserves. During her early years of employment, she worked for the San Jose Country Club and then for University Medical Center as Accounts Receivable Supervisor. She later began a career with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), where she worked for the past thirty-five years as a Collections Representative, Lead Collections Representative, and Certified Instructor Trainer. She was the recipient of numerous awards such as Outstanding Performance, Manager Award, and many more. While working for the IRS, she served as a union steward for the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), where she held several leadership positions such as ACS Move Coordinator, Environmental Committee Founding Member/Steward, Treasurer, Secretary, Board Member, and Assistant Chief Union Steward. In her role for many years, she represented hundreds of IRS employees in their fight for fair treatment, equality and justice in the workplace.
Gwen was a loving wife, mother, sister, and friend to so many. She had a beautiful spirit. All knew her for being the voice of reason and up to date on all current issues. Words often used to describe Gwen are spiritual, orderly, independent, wise, generous, loyal intelligent, non-judgmental, advisor, confidant, visionary and loving. She often shared this piece of advice to those she counseled: “No matter how bad someone hurts you, be careful how you respond because God is going to judge you on your response no matter what the other person did to you."
Gwen is deeply missed by all of those who loved her dearly and those she loved. She leaves to mourn her passing, her loving and dedicated husband, Ronald Brown. She leaves behind her children, Antonio Youngblood, Wendy Joy Kleckley, Glen Dwayne Kleckley, Gregory Jerrod Kleckley, Vondetta Alford, Daryl Lamar Brown (Darrica), Monet LaShea Brown, Ronald Lorenzo Brown, and Ronald Johvon Brown (Shantelle). She will be missed by her grandchildren, Antwan Norris, Reginald K. Robinson, Jr, and great-grandchildren, Antwan Norris, Jr., Trevian Norris, KaiRie Smith-Tolson. She will be deeply missed by her siblings, Willie Hewitt Mitchell (Mildred), Linda Harper (Herbert), Aaron Nathaniel Mitchel (Cecilia), Deborah Ann Tucker (Leroy), Joann Brown (Jerome), Andrew Tisdale (Alma), Constance Yvette Mitchell, and a host of loving nieces and nephews. Goddaughters, Tisha Williams, and Genesis Palamore Archer. She leaves her special friends to cherish her memory, Marvette Andrews, Marva Cuthpert, Catherine Grant, Essie Harriel, Darlene Jones, Jessie Kate Kemp, Ruby Lee Pough, Selina Robinson-Lee, Carolyn Sanders, Evelyn Tukes, and Roberta Wilson. She is also lovingly missed by the Stanton Vocational Class of 1967.
Gwen is preceded in death by her parents, Willie H. and Gloria Mitchell.
A wife, mother, friend, sister, grandmother, encourager, motivator, advisor, visionary teacher, playwright, director, and coordinator.
Gwendolyn Patricia Mitchell Kleckley Brown, was born September 20, 1949 to Gloria and Willie H. Mitchell. She was a life-long resident of the Jacksonville community. Gwen went to be with the Lord on February 19, 2020.
Gwen was educated in Duval County Public Schools, graduating from Stanton Vocational High School in 1967, followed by attending Florida State College at Jacksonville. She obeyed the gospel of Christ on April 6, 1975, at the Northside Church of Christ, where she worked in multiple ministries. She was a bible school teacher in the education ministry and worked with the special programs ministry. While working with the special programs ministry, Gwen wrote magnificent plays that brought the house down, year after year, at the Northside Church of Christ. She wrote motivating plays about Black History, but she brought to life the scriptures with plays such as the “Prodigal Son” and “Jesus Yesterday, Today, and Forever, Dear God-I’m Only Seventeen.” She coordinated and decorated storybook weddings for many years. She was so talented and passionate about it that she opened an event planning business called “Special Occasions.” Even after the doors of the business closed, she continued to create beautiful special occasions for so many family and friends. Throughout the years, she taught family members how to create special occasions for everyone because she believed that everyone deserves to feel special.
Gwen spent eight years serving our country in the United States Army Reserves. During her early years of employment, she worked for the San Jose Country Club and then for University Medical Center as Accounts Receivable Supervisor. She later began a career with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), where she worked for the past thirty-five years as a Collections Representative, Lead Collections Representative, and Certified Instructor Trainer. She was the recipient of numerous awards such as Outstanding Performance, Manager Award, and many more. While working for the IRS, she served as a union steward for the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), where she held several leadership positions such as ACS Move Coordinator, Environmental Committee Founding Member/Steward, Treasurer, Secretary, Board Member, and Assistant Chief Union Steward. In her role for many years, she represented hundreds of IRS employees in their fight for fair treatment, equality and justice in the workplace.
Gwen was a loving wife, mother, sister, and friend to so many. She had a beautiful spirit. All knew her for being the voice of reason and up to date on all current issues. Words often used to describe Gwen are spiritual, orderly, independent, wise, generous, loyal intelligent, non-judgmental, advisor, confidant, visionary and loving. She often shared this piece of advice to those she counseled: “No matter how bad someone hurts you, be careful how you respond because God is going to judge you on your response no matter what the other person did to you."
Gwen is deeply missed by all of those who loved her dearly and those she loved. She leaves to mourn her passing, her loving and dedicated husband, Ronald Brown. She leaves behind her children, Antonio Youngblood, Wendy Joy Kleckley, Glen Dwayne Kleckley, Gregory Jerrod Kleckley, Vondetta Alford, Daryl Lamar Brown (Darrica), Monet LaShea Brown, Ronald Lorenzo Brown, and Ronald Johvon Brown (Shantelle). She will be missed by her grandchildren, Antwan Norris, Reginald K. Robinson, Jr, and great-grandchildren, Antwan Norris, Jr., Trevian Norris, KaiRie Smith-Tolson. She will be deeply missed by her siblings, Willie Hewitt Mitchell (Mildred), Linda Harper (Herbert), Aaron Nathaniel Mitchel (Cecilia), Deborah Ann Tucker (Leroy), Joann Brown (Jerome), Andrew Tisdale (Alma), Constance Yvette Mitchell, and a host of loving nieces and nephews. Goddaughters, Tisha Williams, and Genesis Palamore Archer. She leaves her special friends to cherish her memory, Marvette Andrews, Marva Cuthpert, Catherine Grant, Essie Harriel, Darlene Jones, Jessie Kate Kemp, Ruby Lee Pough, Selina Robinson-Lee, Carolyn Sanders, Evelyn Tukes, and Roberta Wilson. She is also lovingly missed by the Stanton Vocational Class of 1967.
Gwen is preceded in death by her parents, Willie H. and Gloria Mitchell.