Johnella's Story:
by Dara Harper;
This Detroit original was a matriarch, political activist, advocate, friend to all, and so much more ...
In 1945, John William Brown was anxious for a new start. The tall, striking, World War 11 Army Sergeant and honorably discharged, disabled veteran had recently closed his beloved hamburger restaurant in Nyack, New York. He had been so generous to customers, offering too many menu items "on the house", that his business was no longer sustainable.
John decided to relocate to Detroit, Michigan with his wife, Mary, and their three children, Marilyn, Joseph, and Shirley. They all moved into his sister Susie Mae's tiny, two-bedroom, east side apartment, with her husband, William, and their son, Billy. The cramped quarters were so uncomfortable for Mary that she was desperate to return home to Thomasville, Georgia and forget all about the Motor City.
Just before she bought a train ticket, John took advantage of the G.I. Bill of Rights, and purchased a home on the west side of Woodward in 1946. The Browns were the second African American family to move on Clements Street.
In 1949, Mary was expecting. John hoped that the baby would be a boy so the child could become his namesake. Mary was in labor for three days. John feared he might lose his wife and baby, so he demanded another doctor. The new doctor performed an emergency c-section and a precious baby girl was born.
John decided his daughter was going to be his namesake despite her gender, so he named her John and added his sister Ella's name at the end. Johnella Minerva Brown came into the world on October 1st, 1949.
Johnella was the first child in her family to grow up with a television. Her favorite cartoon character was Minnie Mouse. She shared a special connection with her maternal grandparents, Reverend Robert "Papa" and Minerva "Mama" Roulhac. She also shared Mama's love for flowers. Johnella was groomed as a nurturer, taking care of Mama Roulhac until she passed away in 1975.
Mary was a social worker and Johnella often accompanied her to appointments. At an early age, Johnella observed people in crisis and she concluded, "It's not what happens to you, it's how you deal with it:'
John owned an upholstery shop on Linwood and Johnella shared his creative passion for making old things new again. By the time she reached adulthood, she could refurbish almost any piece of furniture.
Johnella was so bright that she graduated from Central High School at the age of 16 in 196 7, the year of the uprising. She never liked her name so she adopted the nickname, "Jan."
Jan enrolled in college courses and worked a range of jobs from accounts receivable specialist, to liquor sales representative. She was so professional and talented in the workplace that she never was fired from any position. As a single young woman, she achieved her goal of home ownership when she bought a house on Sussex Street.
Jan was beautiful, fashionable, and carried herself with class and poise. In her circle of friends, she was known as "Brown Sugar." One night at a girlfriend's Cost of Living Adjustment party, she met Greg Frazier, a young man who had just relocated to Detroit from Cincinnati, Ohio to work as a computer programmer for General Motors. Greg was mesmerized from the moment he laid eyes on Jan, but he insisted on calling her Johnella from the start.
From the time they started dating, Jan's entrepreneurial spirit was evident. She sold her house and opened Jan Jan's Flower & Gift Shop on Grand River. With her creative flare, she provided arrangements for all occasions.
A year into their relationship, Jan planned a romantic dinner for Greg and told him she was ready to start a family. He reflected on what she said and on October 15th, 1980, they eloped. Afterwards, they went to KFC and ate a bucket of chicken with the reverend who married them.
One of the reasons Jan didn't want a big wedding was because she did not want their loved ones to feel obligated to give gifts. She wrote a newsletter announcing their union that she titled, "FRAZIER TIMES" and mailed it to their family members.
The couple welcomed a daughter, Dara Ruth Bayete (August 19, 1981) and a son, Khary Bayete (December 23, 1982). Jan closed her flower shop to support her husband when he decided to quit corporate America and pursue his dream of entrepreneurship. Jan became the office manager for Management Systems Consultants, Inc., located downtown in the Veterans Memorial Building.
Eventually, Greg opened Greg Frazier, CPA, PLLC. Jan was Greg's business partner, providing critical insight to help the company flourish into the successful operation it is today, with clients nationwide. She managed the money, client relations, and all clerical activities - in that order.
Jan was a Human Rights and Voting Rights advocate who was devastated when the State of Michigan nullified the will of the citizens of Detroit and took over the elected School Board. She and Greg were community activists in the fight to regain citizens' voting rights. She was also the campaign treasurer for key elected officials in Detroit, including the Honorable Sharon McPhail and the Honorable JoAnn Watson. Jan worked for many years as the office manager for The Michigan Citizen newspaper, a publication which celebrated causes that Jan cared for deeply.
To say that Jan was a devoted mother would be a gross understatement. When her daughter decided to produce an independent film, Jan came to New York City and volunteered as the production manager. Although she hated traffic, Jan drove a van through the most crowded neighborhoods in Manhattan to help her daughter realize her dream.
Today her legacy stands ever present in her son Khary's latest business endeavor, the Detroit is Different Incubator. Jan's vision brought to life the practicality of capturing the ideas of Khary under one roof. Together, Jan and Khary restored her childhood home. She painted the rooms and did countless improvement projects to make it happen.
Although Jan only gave birth to Dara and Khary, she was a mother to many. She was known for her selflessness and giving heart. Without hesitation, she went out of her way to help anyone in need, even strangers.
One day, Jan was driving in snowy weather and saw a young lady without a coat, standing at a bus stop, holding a baby. She insisted on giving the girl a ride to the train station. There were delays because of the weather and the young mother and her baby were stranded. Jan paid for their stay in a hotel room, and made sure they had food to eat and warm coats. The next morning, Jan took the girl and her baby back to the train station and made sure they boarded safely.
Jan was a woman of faith who believed God could see her through anything. She loved Motown music, turkey spaghetti, African drumming, and most of all, her family. She lived by the quote: "One hundred years from now, it won't matter what car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much I had in my bank account, nor what my clothes looked like, but the world may be a little better because I was important in the life of a child:' |
