Claretha Brown Blake

Claretha Brown, the eldest of three children born to Ulysses 'Seed" Bown and Nancy "Sug" Haynes, arrived into this world September 1934 in Sneads, Florida. She received her early education and training in Jackson County, Florida public schools. Her early religious training was fostered & developed at Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where she accepted Jesus Christ as Lord as a young girl. In her teen years and desiring to expand her life horizons, she departed Sneads, heading South with childhood best friend, Ammie, with Ammie settling in Tampa and Claretha settling in Miami with her older brother Herman A. Brown and wife Iona Brown, where a lifelong journey of love and bonding formed. She attended and graduated high school at George Washington Carver in Coconut Grove. She met the love of her life, Larce Blake in Miami, married, and three children were born to this union: Ann, Buzzy, and Brenda.

Claretha spent the majority of her career life in Nursing, starting as an LPN & studying further to become an RN. She worked in many health care arenas: Public Hospitals, Prison System, Acute Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Private Duty Nursing, and ending her career in Occupational Health Nursing with the US Postal Service.

Claretha united with the African Methodist Episcopalian faith upon her marriage. Nurturing and developing her religious faith, she served as a Class Leader, on the Steward Board, Nurses Auxiliary, and Stewardess ministries; the latter being the dearest to her heart ministry to serve in.

Claretha's passion for fishing was reignited in her middle-aged years. Often, you'd find her 'requiring' some of her grandsons and nephews to go fishing with her. Relegated and required to serve in this familyship were grandsons Erik and Justin and nephews LeMarion and Kurt. Times when the catch included small, tiny fish and she was questioned: Moma, shouldn't you have thrown that one back? Her mantra always was: "If it bites me (and my pole), I am going to bite it!" The type of fishing preferences existed too-Sisters Claretha and Sally always wanted saltwater fishing, and her sisters Isabelle and Pearl always teamed up to do freshwater fishing together. Much love, family bonding, calmness, and passing on life wisdom to the boys evolved on the fish creek.

Claretha Blake is a proud and dedicated member of the International Free and Accepted Modern Masons and Order of Eastern Stars since January 19,1970. Sister Blake held many positions with her highest being Worthy Matron of Lillie Curry Chapter #154 in Perrine, Florida. She later transferred into Clara Bryant Chapter # 408 where she served until her health started to fail. As a very faithful and active member, she always demonstrated a deep commitment to the values and mission of the Order.

Throughout her journey in the Eastern Star organization Sister Blake had advanced into several other departments with her highest being a member of The Royal Ladies. Her dedication to the OES principles of Fidelity, Constancy, Loyalty, Faith, and Love is evident in her actions both within and outside of the chapter. She strived to embody the lessons of the Five Heroines-Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha, and Electa- and encourages others to live by their example.

God grants the saints in heaven to witness the race that we are running on earth. Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Claretha has run the race with endurance, cheered on and ushered in, by that great cloud of witnesses, and she has won the race.

Loved ones preceding her in death and also winning the race are her parents Ulysses Brown and Nancy Haynes; husband Larce Blake, daughter Saundra Angeline (Ann); her maternal/paternal siblings: Annie Pearl Brown and James 'JD' Brown; paternal siblings preceding Claretha in death and winning the race are Espy Brown, Fannie Brown Daniels, Willie H. Brown, Sally Brown Thomas, Mettie Isabelle Brown Pope, Herman A. Brown, Edgar M. Brown, and Grace Brown Sykes.
Left to cherish the precious memories and continue running the race are her son Marvin "Buzzy" (Judy) and daughter Brenda; six grandchildren: Shain, Erik (Pamela), Tremayne, Sedrick, Laurence and Larce; 14 great-grandchildren, including devoted 1st great-grandchild Justin; and three great-great-grandchildren. Also, mourning her passing are her devoted Cousins/Sisters: Gladys Lewis (Pensacola), Beamon Brewton (Mariana), and Catherine Haynes (Miami); Goddaughter Angela L. Farmer (Pensacola), and a host of devoted nieces and nephews.

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