Quinzetta E. Brown

Quinzetta Elizabeth Brown, 77, of Parsons, died unexpectedly Thursday, January 11, 2018 at her home.

Quinzetta Elizabeth Brown, affectionately known as "QZ", was born on February 23, 1940 to James DeWitt Brown and Sara Elizabeth (Davis) Brown in Parsons, Kansas.

Quinzetta attended Douglass School in Parsons and was a graduate of the Parsons Senior High School Class of 1958. She received an Associate degree from Parsons Junior College and attended Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg.

Quinzetta was employed at the Parsons State Hospital and then began her career at the Labette County Medical Center as a Microbiology Assistant. During her time as a Microbiology Assistant, QZ assisted two doctors at LCMC in a research project on the "Sensitivity of Microorganisms in the Treatment of Acute Conjunctivitis" which was published in the Journal of Clinical Pediatrics in 1986. Quinzetta worked as a Laboratory Assistant for 32 years until her retirement in 2000.

She was an avid athlete and sportsman, a great pitcher and catcher, and was known for her homeruns. QZ played on the women's softball team "The Parsons Jets" leading them to several championships under the management of Sonny Johnson. She continued to work and play in the community women's softball leagues after the Jets disbanded.

Quinzetta was a past member of Brown Chapel AME. QZ was a multi-talented person, an accomplished artist playing both the piano and guitar, and community historian who shared her knowledge of the African-American community and the historic Douglass School. Quinzetta created and completed a history of the Douglass School that is housed in the Parsons Historical Society and provided the Historical Society an accurate drawing of the former all African-American school.

She is survived by her brother, Dr. Bertrand Brown (Joyce) of Englewood Cliffs, NJ; nephews, Dr. Bert Brown (Veree) of Dallas, TX, Gregory Brown of Detroit, MI, Colby Brown, NC; niece, Ellen "Ellie" Brown, of Dallas, TX; extended family members, Delphia Mae Jones, Mary E. and Arthur Davis of Kansas City, MO, Deborah Davis, of Kansas City, KS, niece and caregivers, Julie and Randall Hinman and family, Shirley Quinzy-Irving, and Beverly Browning, all of Parsons; and a host of other loving nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

Quinzetta was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Evelyn W. Brown; brother, Bernard Brown; nephew, Micheal M. Brown; an aunt, Fern Vann and her husband, Leland; and an uncle, Joseph M. Davis and his wife, Jewell.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Parsons. The family will receive friends from 7-8:00 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.