Yvonne Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yvonne Brown
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|---|---|
| Mayor of Tchula, Mississippi | |
| In office 2001–2009 |
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| Preceded by | Frances Wilkes |
| Succeeded by | Sharkey Ford |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Yvonne L. Rayford
September 8, 1952 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | April 23, 2012 (aged 59) Tchula, Mississippi |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Occupation | Mayor |
Yvonne L. Rayford Brown (born September 8, 1952 – died April 23, 2012) was an American politician. She was a member of the Republican Party. Yvonne Brown served as the Mayor of Tchula, a small town in Mississippi. She was mayor for two terms, from 2001 to 2009.
She was also a candidate for the United States House of Representatives in 2006. Yvonne Brown was special because she was the first black female Republican mayor in Mississippi. Some sources even say she was the first in the entire United States!
Contents
About Yvonne Brown
Her Early Life
Yvonne L. Rayford was born in 1952 in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents, Hilda and Bennie Rayford, were teachers. She had two sisters, LaVonne and Gail.
Her family later moved to Toledo, Ohio. After Yvonne finished high school, her family moved back to Mississippi. Her father, Bennie Rayford, was active in politics. He used to be a Democrat.
When he returned to Mississippi, he became a Republican. Yvonne also decided to join the Republican Party. She was first married to Russell Barnett. They later divorced.
Becoming a Community Leader
Yvonne Brown moved to Tchula in 1995. There, she married Robert Brown. They lived in an old grocery store. Part of it was used for her husband's church.
Together, they started the Grace Community Church in Tchula. Yvonne Brown became very involved in helping her community. She worked with her husband on many projects.
They helped fix up homes and held Bible clubs. They also volunteered at a food bank. They helped older people and offered free classes. These activities helped her get involved in local politics.
Her Time as Mayor
In June 2001, Yvonne Rayford Brown ran for Mayor of Tchula. This town was mostly Democratic. Even so, she won the election. She beat the person who was already mayor.
Her win got attention from national news. She was seen as the first black female Republican mayor in the U.S. As mayor, she worked hard for her town. She received a $5 million grant from Washington.
She used this money to build a new town complex. She also used federal funds for water, sewer, and street projects. She improved parks and other fun places for the community. She was re-elected mayor in 2005.
In 2004, she was a delegate at the Republican National Convention. This is a big meeting for the Republican Party. In 2006, she ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She ran against Bennie Thompson, who was already in Congress. She did not win this election.
Her Later Years
After being mayor, Yvonne Brown worked for the Mississippi Department of Human Services. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2011. She passed away in April 2012 at age 59.
She was survived by her mother and her two daughters, Nichole and Aliya. She was also survived by her sisters.
