Charlsie Nash Brown

Charlsie Nash Brown, 91, of Little Rock, passed away November 17, 2014. She was born December 5, 1922 in Faulkner County, the daughter of Forrest and Mary Thomas Nash. Her grandparents were Henry and Ellen Thomas and John and Rose Nash. She graduated from Greenbrier High School in 1939 and Central Baptist College in Conway in 1942. She began teaching grades one through eight in a one-room schoolhouse near DeWitt in 1942. While in DeWitt, she met her future husband, John Homer Brown. After their marriage, the couple lived in Oregon and Michigan for three years where they were involved in the production of defense materials. In 1945 they moved to Little Rock where she resumed her teaching career as a first grade teacher at Oakhurst Elementary. From 1945 until her retirement in 1981, Charlsie devoted her life to elementary education, first as a teacher, then as principal and finally, elementary supervisor in the Little Rock schools. Following her years at Oakhurst, Charlsie moved to Baseline Elementary to teach first and second grades, then to Parham (now Rockefeller) Elementary to teach first and third grades and to Bale Elementary where she taught fourth grade. In the fall of 1961, she became principal of Centennial Elementary School, a position she held until 1965. She opened Western Hills Elementary and served as principal there from 1966 to 1973. From 1973 to 1978, she was principal at Terry Elementary, where she was instrumental in starting their Outdoor Nature study program. In July of 1979, she moved to the central office as Supervisor of Elementary Education, a position she held until her retirement in 1981. Upon retirement, she received a Lifetime Teaching Certificate from the State Department of Education. An achievement of which she was most proud was that, while teaching full time she continued her education, earning a BA degree from UCA in 1951, and a Masters in Education degree from the University of Arkansas in 1954. She also earned a Masters in Education Administration. Charlsie was a life member of the PTA and the Association for Childhood Education, a member of the Arkansas Education Association, Arkansas and National Elementary Principals Associations, the Little Rock Retired Teachers Association, Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority and the Little Rock Departmental Club. She was a Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Arkansas. Charlsie was a member of the Elizabeth class of Immanuel Baptist Church since 1964. In addition to her church activity, she was an active volunteer. She was a member of the board of the Baptist Hospital Auxiliary for many years and was a founding member of the volunteer corps at the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visitor Information Center. After John's death, she moved to Parkway Village, making many friends and continued to be involved in her many activities, both in the Village and the community. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years and 10 months, John, five brothers, Theo, Wayne, Glendon, Frank and Travis Nash, and nephews, DeWayne and Dwight Nash. She is survived by several nieces and nephews, Jerry Nash, Dianne Nash, Mary (Marvin) Campbell, Thomas (Nadine) Nash, Debbie Nash, Rita Green, Donna (Jim) Garrett and Sheila (DeWayne) Nash. Also surviving are her sisters-in-law, Thelma Nash of Hopkinsville, Kentucky and Jimmie Merritt of Greenbrier. Charlsie is also survived by her brothers-in-law, Floyd Brown (Judy) and L.C. Brown and their children, Becky Allen, Jim Brown, David (Allison) Brown, Marsha Mackey and Karen (Bo) McKay. Visitation will be Thursday, November 20 from 4-7 p.m. at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.). Services will be Friday, November 21 at 1 p.m. at the funeral home, officiated by Dr. Gary Hollingsworth and Rev. Rick Jaggars of Immanuel Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Forest Hills Memorial Park in Alexander. Memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church Bereavement Fund, 501 N. Shackelford Rd., Little Rock, Ark. 72211 or to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 224-2200. Mrs. Brown's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.