St. Pete mourns Mary Brown, community trailblazer
April 7, 2025 - Mary Brown, who became the first African American elected to the Pinellas County School Board in 2002, died March 29 at age 89. Mayor Ken Welch noted that Brown "dedicated her life to uplifting children and families." Brown operated a daycare in South St. Petersburg's Jordan Park and coordinated childcare for the Juvenile Welfare Board before securing a seat on the school board. Her family asked well-wishers to send donations to the PARC Center for Disabilities instead of flowers.