Susie Ione Brown Waxwood: A Legacy of Philanthropy and Civil Rights
Susie Ione Brown Waxwood was a formidable force in community service and social progress, spending over a century of her life breaking barriers for African Americans. As a dedicated philanthropist and clubwoman based in Princeton, New Jersey, her influence spanned from the integration of medical services to the leadership of major social organizations.
Key Facts
- Lifespan: September 12, 1902 – January 30, 2006 (103 years).
- Education: Graduated from Howard University in 1925.
- Pioneering Role: First Black executive director of the Princeton YWCA (1958–1968).
- Civil Rights Impact: Worked to integrate the Red Cross blood bank in the 1940s.
- Community Contributions: Co-founded the Princeton Adult School and the Witherspoon Federal Credit Union.
Early Life and Academic Foundations
Born in Gray, Louisiana, Susie Ione Brown was raised in an environment that valued education. Both of her parents, John D. Brown and Elizabeth Saulsby Brown, were teachers, and her father also worked in the insurance industry. This academic foundation extended to her brother, Russell Wilfred Brown, who became a distinguished professor and medical researcher at the Tuskegee Institute.
After attending high school in New Orleans, Brown pursued higher education at Howard University, graduating in 1925. During her time there, she joined Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter sorority established by African American college women.
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A Career of Breaking Barriers
Upon returning to New Orleans in 1927, Brown became a charter member of the Alpha Beta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, marking the first Black "Greek Letter" sorority in Louisiana. She eventually rose to lead the chapter as its president.
Leadership in New Jersey
In 1935, Brown moved to New Jersey, where she shifted her focus toward systemic social change. During World War II, she volunteered with the Red Cross, where she played a critical role in the 1940s by working to integrate the organization's blood bank, challenging the racial segregation of the era.
Her leadership reached a milestone in 1958 when she became the executive director of the Princeton YWCA, making her the first Black person to hold that position. She served in this role until 1968 and later acted as the executive director of the Montclair-North Essex YWCA from 1969 to 1971. Her lifelong commitment to the organization was recognized in 1999 when the Princeton YWCA established the Waxwood Lifetime Award in her honor.
Community Development and Advocacy
Beyond the YWCA, Waxwood was instrumental in establishing essential community resources. She helped found the Princeton Adult School and the Witherspoon Federal Credit Union, providing educational and financial opportunities to the local population. Her advocacy extended to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and The Links, where she was a charter member of the Central New Jersey chapter.
In recognition of her tireless service, she was named the Soroptimist Woman of the Year in 1977.
Faith, Aging, and Later Years
Waxwood's commitment to service was deeply intertwined with her faith. Joining the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church in 1942, she was ordained as an elder and served as president of the Women's Association. She also helped launch the Princeton Crisis Ministry, an organization that continues to honor her birthday with annual canned goods drives.
In her later years, she became a voice for the elderly, representing New Jersey at the White House Conference on Aging and chairing the Mercer County Office on Aging. Even at the age of 100, she remained engaged with the next generation, visiting a kindergarten class in Tryon, North Carolina, in 2003 to share stories of a world before automobiles and light bulbs.
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Personal Life and Lasting Legacy
In 1929, Susie married Howard B. Waxwood Jr., a scientist and educator. Their partnership was one of mutual contribution to society; an apartment complex, The Waxwood, was later named after him at the site of his former school. Following the passing of her husband in 1977 and her son, Howard B. Waxwood III, in 1979, she eventually moved to North Carolina in 2002 to be near her granddaughter.
Susie Ione Brown Waxwood passed away on January 30, 2006, at the age of 103. Today, her legacy is preserved through her portrait in the Princeton YWCA lobby and the continued impact of the institutions she helped build.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Education | Howard University (Class of 1925) |
| Key Organizations | Alpha Kappa Alpha, Red Cross, YWCA, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, The Links |
| Major Firsts | First Black Executive Director of Princeton YWCA |
| Founding Roles | Princeton Adult School, Witherspoon Federal Credit Union |
| Honors | Soroptimist Woman of the Year (1977), Waxwood Lifetime Award (1999) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Susie Ione Brown Waxwood's most significant professional milestone?
One of her most significant milestones was serving as the first Black executive director of the Princeton YWCA from 1958 to 1968.
How did she contribute to the civil rights movement in the 1940s?
During the 1940s, she worked with the Red Cross to integrate the organization's blood bank, fighting against racial segregation in medical services.
Which educational and financial institutions did she help establish?
She was a co-founder of both the Princeton Adult School and the Witherspoon Federal Credit Union.
How is her memory honored today in Princeton?
Her legacy is honored through the Waxwood Lifetime Award at the Princeton YWCA, a portrait in the YWCA lobby, and an annual canned goods drive held by the Princeton Crisis Ministry on her birthday.
What was her connection to Alpha Kappa Alpha?
She was a member of the sorority at Howard University and later became one of the charter members and the president of the Alpha Beta Omega chapter in New Orleans, the first Black Greek-letter sorority in Louisiana.