Jennie Wright & Brenda Cason 1919-2002 07/28/1950 – 2020 Jennie Larry-Wright and Brenda Wright-Cason, mo<strong>the</strong>r and daughter, are Brooksville, Florida natives and first and second generation <strong>Hernando</strong> <strong>County</strong> educators whose career paths have similarities. Jennie, Brenda’s mo<strong>the</strong>r completed her secondary education in 1939 at Middleton High School in Tampa, Florida because <strong>Hernando</strong> <strong>County</strong> did not <strong>of</strong>fer high school diplomas to its African Americans. Jennie earned an associate degree from Florida Memorial College, and her bachelors from Tuskegee Institute (University), made famous <strong>by</strong> Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, and Tuskegee Airmen. She returned to <strong>Hernando</strong> <strong>County</strong> to teach at a time when high school graduation for <strong>Black</strong>s was still a new experience. She taught for 39 years, including tenures at Croom, Moton and Brooksville Primary. She retired in 1983. The Richard and Bonnie Inmon Family had a plaque mounted on <strong>the</strong> Mid-Florida Community Services Head Start <strong>of</strong>fice wall to commemorate Jennie’s role as a Moton High School alumna and teacher. Jennie was a charter member (1952) <strong>of</strong> Kelly Temple #1004 where she served as <strong>the</strong> chaplain. Brenda was <strong>the</strong> valedictorian <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> last class to graduate from Moton High School 1968. She had been accepted and prepared to enter Tuskegee, following in <strong>the</strong> steps <strong>of</strong> her mo<strong>the</strong>r and cousins, Carrie B. Martin and Hazel Land until her high school principal talked her out <strong>of</strong> it. She went on to earn a Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Education degree in 1971 from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), graduating Magna Cum Laude. She commenced her teaching career in Hillsborough <strong>County</strong> until <strong>the</strong>re was an opening in <strong>Hernando</strong> <strong>County</strong>. She earned a Master <strong>of</strong> Education degree in early childhood education in 1977, while still teaching. She also became <strong>the</strong> first African American woman in <strong>Hernando</strong> <strong>County</strong> to become an assistant principal in <strong>the</strong> desegregated system. Brenda continued to serve as an assistant principal for various schools until her retirement in 2007. She loved her students, fellow educators, and took pride in making a difference in <strong>the</strong> lives <strong>of</strong> all she encountered. She was involved in many civic organizations to include <strong>Black</strong> Educators’ <strong>Caucus</strong>, <strong>Inc</strong>. <strong>of</strong> <strong>Hernando</strong> <strong>County</strong>, Democratic <strong>Black</strong> <strong>Caucus</strong> <strong>of</strong> Florida, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, African American Club <strong>of</strong> <strong>Hernando</strong> <strong>County</strong>, Rotary International, Take Stock in Children, Head Start, <strong>Hernando</strong> <strong>County</strong> Choir Federation, and Interested Women <strong>of</strong> Various Endeavors in Society (IWVES) Club. She was a lover <strong>of</strong> music, had a song for every occasion, and played <strong>the</strong> piano since age sixteen. She was <strong>the</strong> musician for Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church and Mt. Pilgrim Freewill Baptist Church until her health failed. Brenda transitioned into eternal life on April 17, 2020, after a ten-year battle with Alzheimer’s. Brenda is survived <strong>by</strong> her daughter, Keisha Cason. Sponsor: Keisha Cason “You can pray until you faint, but unless you get up and try to do something, God is not going to put it in your lap.” ― Fannie Lou Hamer
OCTOBER <strong>2022</strong> NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Yom Kippur 2001, Dr. Ruth Simmons, first African- American leader <strong>of</strong> an Ivy League Institution, elected 18th President <strong>of</strong> Brown University Columbus Day U.S. Navy Birthday National Sweetest Day National Boss' Day 1949, Alonza G. Moron, becomes first African-American President <strong>of</strong> Hampton Institute, VA Halloween