Geraldine R (Reed) Brown

Geraldine Reed Brown, 79, gently laid down the cares of this world and entered eternal rest on February 23, 2026, with her children by her side.

Geraldine was born on February 18, 1947 in Los Angeles, CA to William and Alberta Reed. She was the third of nine children and carried a deep, lifelong pride in being a Reed. Geraldine spent her childhood in Compton, CA where she created fond memories of being a Camp Fire Girl, attending Dodgers games with her Dad and siblings, and spending Sundays at her beloved family church, Curry Temple CME. From an early age, she knew the power in using her voice, and she became a championship debater during her high school years. 

Geraldine graduated from Centennial High School in 1964 and attended Fisk University. At Fisk, she flourished academically, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in history. She also got involved in theater, and pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. A trailblazer in her own right, she earned a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law and an MBA from Harvard Business School. It was during her first year in Cambridge that a smooth-talking classmate named Ronald Brown charmed her. Geraldine and Ron were married in 1972 and shared 50 years together as husband and wife. 

The Browns made their home in Montclair, NJ with their two children, Kimberly and Michael. While Geraldine held many roles in her career—from lawyer and management consultant to professor and meditator—her heart was set on service, not accumulating accolades. Whether as a trustee at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, a trustee at Ramapo College, or a board member of the Garden State Bar Association, she sought to live out the values instilled by her parents and help others along her way. 

Many knew Geraldine’s unmistakable poise, but she was also playful, with a touch of sass. All her sophistication went out the window when competition was involved. It was not unusual to hear her let out a tiny growl with a ping pong paddle or air hockey mallet in her hands, or as she squared up for a game of H.O.R.S.E. She was also the most enthusiastic parade attendee you will ever meet—waving on the sidelines as if it were an official duty. She was a history buff and could get lost in Reconstruction documentaries for hours. And when the Electric Slide started toplay, nothing could get between her and the dance floor. She was refined and fiery, graceful and full of grit. 

Geraldine lived with resilient joy, reflected in her radiant smile. That smile, we trust, shines even brighter now that she is reunited in eternity with her beloved husband Ronald; her mother, Alberta; her father, William Penn; her brother, William H. Reed; and her sisters, Gloria J. Reed and Leila M. Reed.

She leaves to celebrate her life and legacy her son, Michael; her daughter, Kimberly; her son-in-law, Sean (Sam and Hope); her brothers Jerry Reed (Stephanie), John Reed (Diane), Robert Reed (Annette), and Rayford Reed (Margaret-Ann); her sister, Myra Reed; her uncle, Woodrow Reed; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

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