Obituary of Gladys Juhans Browner

 
Gladys Browner (nee Juhans) was born on September 11th in Washington, DC to the late Addie and Johnnie Juhans.  Both her parents and her brothers, James and Wilbur, preceded her in death.
 
Gladys attended Margaret Murray Washington Vocational School, earning certificates in both Child Care and Cosmetology.  After pursuing her beautician’s license, Gladys initially worked for Mrs. Green’s salon.  Although she was very young, Judy, as she was called by some of her customers, earned a reputation as a trusted and talented hair stylist.  She eventually left Green’s to work for Virginia’s Beauty Salon on Benning Road, Northeast.  It was at Virginia’s salon where she would meet Joe Browner, the nephew of a fellow stylist.   After dating for a couple years, Gladys and Joe married on January 14th.
 
Gladys changed careers, moving away from being a stylist to working in the warehouse for Giant Food, Inc.  She eventually left Giant to focus on her family but continued her work as a part time beautician.  Gladys also worked part time as a parent-teacher advisor for Mary H. Plummer elementary school.  Gladys went back to work for Giant Food as a bakery clerk where she continued to work until her retirement in 2013. 
 
Gladys was a dedicated wife, mother, and daughter.  These years were not without tribulations as one by one she lost her younger brother, Wilbur, her father Johnnie, her older brother James, and finally her mother Addie. Before his death, her father was diagnosed with schizophrenia and unable to find resources to assist families dealing with this struggle, she helped found a group known as Threshold-DC which is now under the umbrella of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI).  A strong belief in God during these difficult times sustained her.
 
Originally a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church on Q Street, NW, Gladys became one of the founding members of Mount Morris Baptist church which later became Mt. Olives Baptist Church.
 
Gladys was many things but most of all she was a generous woman who always willing to lend a hand and help anyone should could.  After her retirement, Gladys remained close to her church family, especially her two devoted friends, Elzonia Smith and Debra Rice.
 
After a brief hospitalization, Gladys passed away on March 13, 2017.
 
She was the bedrock of her family and will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.  Although our hearts are broken, we take comfort that she is at rest with our Father and back with her family until we see her again.
 
She leaves a devoted husband Arthur (Joe), three children, Karen, Mark, and Adrian (Chris), two granddaughters Portia and Alexus, one great grandson Josiah, her beloved dog Harper, nieces, nephews, a host of relatives, and friends.