In paying tribute to the late Elaine Lenora Browne, Donovan Palmer, President of the Teachers' Credit Union of Trinidad and Tobago, spoke of "a small suitcase" which she carried. "That small suitcase" explained De Anne Evril Robb, daughter of the deceased "was Mummy's first computer. Its contents were the following files: Mother's Union, Sunday School and Music books - The Church; Balance sheets, 1% of the reducing balance - The Credit Union; First Aid Kit - The Red Cross; Rope-Reef Knots etc - The Girl Guides; Embroidery - Women's Federation; Women's League and Party Group Constituency - PNM; and Books.
Mrs Browne, wife of Reverend Father Amos Browne, and mother of Selby, Brian, De Anne and Clement, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away on August 13, 2002 at the North Shore Medical Center in Miami, Florida.
On August 15, a Memorial Service was conducted at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Miami by Reverend Dean Donald Krickbaum and Reverend Mark H Sims. Canon Winston Joseph, formerly of the parish of All Saints in Trinidad, delivered the sermon.
At the funeral service on Saturday 24 August, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port of Spain, the Bishop of the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago, Reverend Calvin Bess, conducted the service along with Asst Bishops Clive Abdulah and Rawle Douglin. Canon Steve West preached the homily.
An appreciation of the life of this devoutly Christian woman who had made significant contributions to so many organisations which led to a Humming Bird Public Service Medal of Merit for Community Service in 1995 and the Trinidad and Tobago Credit Union League Award, was shared by her longstanding friend, Dr Nesta Patrick, Palmer and her daughter.
Where does one start when there is so much to be said about this 'Woodbrook girl who grew up at No 48 Luis Street? First with Palmer's disclosure to a large congregation of mourners that the Credit Union would fund an annual scholarship in her name tenable at the University of the West Indies. Elaine Browne was a founding member of the Teachers' Credit Union of Trinidad and Tobago, and a former member of the World Council of Credit Unions.
As a teacher at Tranquillity Government Primary School, says Dr Patrick " Elaine was instrumental in assisting my daughters and other children in a reading programme to the extent that we met regularly to discuss her programme and to assist me with my programme at the Special school of St Ann's Hospital. She eventually became principal of Piccadilly Government Primary School."
Mrs Browne was a member of the Holy Saviour Parish of the Anglican Diocese; served as a member of the World Christian Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland; a Director of the Ecumenical Church Loan Fund Committee of the Christian Council of Trinidad and Tobago; was a founding member of the St John's branch of the Mother's Union; and chairperson of the Northern Region of the Mother's Union in the Diocese.
She was a founding member and the first President of the Trinidad and Tobago Federation of Women's Institutes and the Caribbean Federation of Women. And made significant contributions to the Red Cross and Girl Guides Associations of Trinidad and Tobago. "Education was of paramount importance to her" says De Anne. "Anyone with whom she came into contact knew immediately that she had an unequivocal and unapologetic stance on the matter of education for all. And she would be ready to deal with Queen or commoner on this matter.....Never rude, never loud, always appropriate.....Mummy was an avid sportswoman. Whether it was cricket, basketball, football, netball, hockey, table tennis or any other sport, she was on the ball and knew rules and could tackle youngsters hanging on the basketball court on any call made by the referee."
"She was witty and artistic.....Culturally she was a boss. From our early introduction to music around the piano to music festival. ....A pioneer in the introduction of the steelband at school and at church." Above all Elaine Lenora Browne was a dedicated wife, Amos always came first, and a devoted mother. Family gatherings were always important and she was always taking photographs of these events and circulating them to all members of the family. And even when her health was failing, at age 83, she managed to research the family tree, and informed her family of the names of slaves from whom they descended.
"We thank God for blessing us with our mother - Elaine Lenora Daniel Browne. Our national heroine. She lives in our hearts and in the hearts of all the lives she touched." May she rest in peace.