GEORGE WASHINGTON WILLIAMS ROOM

In November, 2004, State Representative Edna Brown won her second elected term to the Ohio House of Representatives where she served more than 116,000 residents of the 48th District in Lucas County. Representative Brown began her tenure in the Ohio Legislature in January, 2002 when she was recommended by the Lucas County Democratic Party to replace State Representative Jack Ford in the Ohio House of Representatives, upon his election as Mayor of Toledo. Representative Brown was then elected to a full two year term in November of 2002 and began serving that term in January, 2003. For the 126th General Assembly, Rep. Brown had been appointed to the Health, Ethics and Elections, Economic Development and Environment Committees and named as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aging. She also served on the Select Committee on Ohio's Competitive Edge for Job Creation and Retention, the Local Government Caucus, the Glass Industry Caucus, was a Board member of the Commission on Minority Health, a member of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators National Executive Committee.

In 2010, she was elected to the Ohio Senate, and re-elected for a second term in 2004.  Senator Brown served as the Senate Minority Whip. Senate District 11 included areas of Toledo, Lucas County and the shore of Lake Erie. Brown was the first African American to represent Toledo in the Ohio Senate.   

Senator Brown was educated in the Toledo Public Schools, a graduate of Whitney Vocational High School and at the University of Toledo and Mary Manse College. Senator Brown began her long career in public life as an employee with the City of Toledo where she held positions in several departments, and went on to hold a seat on Toledo City Council. She retired in 1992 after 32 years of City service.

Devoting much of her time and energy to community projects, Senator Brown was on the Board of Directors of the Toledo Urban League, served as Vice President of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, and as a Trustee for the A. Phillip Randolph Institute. In addition, she served on the Board of Trustees for the Downtown Toledo Parking Authority, the Erie Street Market Board of Directors, was a past Chair of the Administration Board for Braden United Methodist Church, which honored her during 2002 Women's Day for her life of service, and was a charter member of the Executive Women's Golf Association.

Senator Brown received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions on behalf of the community. She has received the People's Tribunal Community Service Award, Northwest Ohio Client's Council's Community Leadership Award and recognition from Zeta Phi Beta Sorority for her community service. In 1994, Representative Brown received the Northwest Ohio Black Media Association Impact Newsmaker Award.

Widow of the late Willie Brown, Senator Edna Brown was the mother of four children and proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In her leisure time, Senator Brown was an avid golfer and traveler.  She passed away January 1, 2022 in Toledo, Ohio.  

Sources:

• Ohio House of Representatives Web Site, 2003.
• Personal Biography, 2004
• Obituary, Toledo Blade, 2022.