Obituary for Dr. Barbara C. Brown

Posted May 05, 2016 11:00 pm

Provided

DR. BARBARA COLLEEN BROWN (nee Leavitt), 61, of Chester, Illinois, passed away at 1:37 a.m., Thursday, May 5, 2016 at Memorial Hospital in Chester.

She was born to the late J. W. and Colleen L. (nee: Cox) Leavitt on October 30, 1954 in Red Bud.

She married Richard A. Brown on August 14, 1976 in Ellis Grove. He survives.

Barbara was a former Clerk of Courts for Randolph County (2000-2012). She earned her Ph.D from Southern Illinois University in 1985 and continued to teach in the department of political science for over 30 years.

During many of those years, she taught American government and democracy classes to international students through a summer program funded by the U.S. State Department.

She published widely in her field and established herself as an important figure in local, state, and national electoral politics. Barbara was a co-founder and former president of the Illinois Women's Institute for Leadership, vice-chair for the Democratic Party of Illinois, co-founder and president of Southwestern Illinois Democratic Women, founder and president of Southern Illinois Democratic Women, Precinct Committeewoman and former chairwoman of the Randolph County Democratic Central Committee, and treasurer for the Pierre Menard Democrat Club.

She was a nine-time delegate to the Democratic National Convention, a two-time candidate for Illinois State Senate district 58, and served notable roles in the campaigns of President Bill Clinton (92 and 96) and of President Barack Obama (08 and 12).

Barbara was a lifelong parishioner of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Ellis Grove, where she began playing the organ at 14 years of age and continued for over 40 years.

In addition to her political career, Barbara contributed to the betterment of her community by helping to establish the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Randolph County, serving on the Chester Public Library Board of Trustees, starting and leading the Chester Aces (a 4-H club), being a longtime member of Rotary International and an organizing member of the DAR Liberty of the West Chapter.

Barbara was a beautiful and kind daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and woman. Her intelligence, integrity, and strength touched deeply each person with whom she came into contact.

With her passing, the world is losing a distinguished and leading voice that spoke always for the rights and dignities of women and of common people.

Her compassion and accomplishments are a testament to what one may achieve when she places family and community above individual aspirations.

We should all be so lucky to be graced with knowing someone like her in our lifetimes. And while her voice may be silenced, her spirit will continue, burning bright in the expanding intellect of her students, the altruism of her colleagues, and through the love of her family.

Survivors:

Husband - Richard A. Brown, Chester.3 Sons - Jay (Gabriella) Brown, Chicago; Matthew (Ann) Brown - Nashville, Tenn. and Nathaniel Brown, Fairview Heights. 2 Grandchildren - Leavitt and Alette.

6 Siblings - John Todd, Carl Todd, Shelby Powell, Joann Meyer, Karen Stallman and Rebecca Dudenbostel

Preceded in death by - Parents

Funeral Mass: 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 9, 2016 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Ellis Grove.

Officiating - Fr. Ben Stern, Fr. Chris Reuter

Deacon - Al DuBois. Interment - Evergreen Cemetery in Chester

Visitation - Sunday, 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm; Monday, 7:30 am - 9:00 am

Pechacek-McClure Funeral Home, Chester, Illinois

Monday, 10:00 am - 11:00 am

St. Mary Catholic Church, Ellis Grove, Illinois

In lieu of flowers

Memorials - St. Mary's Catholic Church of Ellis Grove Altar Sodality and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

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