Priscilla Browne Holton was a noted educator.
Holton died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. She was 90.
She was born Dec. 31, 1921, to Lucille Ford and Edward Ashton Brown in Hartford, Conn.
Holton attended Bennett College for Women, North Carolina, graduated from University of Saint Joseph, interned at Vassar College in New York, and earned a master’s in education from Antioch Graduate School in Ohio.
She was the first African-American principal of Green Tree School. She held various positions throughout her career as an educator which included founding director of the North Hills Day Care Center, founding board member of the Children’s Village Child Care Center, education department director and program administrator for the master’s of education program at Antioch and head start coordinator for Philadelphia.
Citations awarded by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia City Council acknowledged her as a “life-long champion of early childhood education, the family, special children and the celebration of each person’s unique contributions to the rich, diverse mosaic of our community.”
In 1980, she was presented with the Distinguished Alumnae Medal from St. Joseph’s College. She was honored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for 40 years of service.
Holton volunteered at various organizations including the Franklin Institute Science Museum, Girl Scouts, Foster Grandparents, Council of Labor and Industry, Singing City and the Philadelphia Housing Authority.
In addition to her parents, Holton was preceded in death by her husband, John Lyle Holton and brother, William Harrison.
She is survived by her children, Mary Frances, John Kingsley and Leslie Lucille; grandchildren, Edmund, James, Tamara, Maggie, Angel, Ethan, Robin, John, Julian, Alianna and Xochitl; great-grandchildren, Tymier, Jamir, Deborah, Hannah, Desmond and Eiden; son-in-law, Fred Mumenthaler; daughter-in-law, Mirna Holton and other relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. at Grace Baptist Church of Germantown, 25 West Johnson St.
