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Submitted: 11/28/21 • Approved: 11/30/21 • Last Updated: 12/3/21 • R1403406-G1403405-S3
Snowie Belle Coulter
September 10, 1914 - March 19, 2013
*Obituary
Snowie Belle (Coulter) Brown was born September 10, 1914, on the family farm in Center Point, Arkansas. She was the 8th of 13 children born to Harvey and Julia (Edwards) Coulter. Her mother, father, and all of her siblings preceded her in death.
She was baptized at an early age in the Wesley Chapel AME Church in Center Point where her father and mother were leaders. That tradition of faithful service continued when she was employed by the Horatio Arkansas School District as the teacher at Cottage Hill ("Colored School") School, and joined the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. She served as Sunday School Superintendent and Church Treasurer until her death—for over seventy years.
Snowie completed all course studies offered at Dunbar High School in Center Point, but realized they were not enough to fulfill her dream to become a teacher. She was allowed by her parents to live with her brother, Oscar Coulter, in Hot Springs, Arkansas where, in 1934, she received her high school diploma at Horace Mann High School. With financial assistance from her brothers, Ray (already a teacher), Oscar, and Ferd, she enrolled at Arkansas Branch Normal College (the name later changed to Arkansas AM&N- and then to University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff). In 1938, with family and church moral and financial support, work aide, and scholarships, she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education. Although she was not the first member of her family to attend college, she was the first to receive a college degree. She always spoke glowingly about how proud she had made her father, Harvey. The love, support, and encouragement of her family to achieve her dream created a Coulter family bond that has inspired our family values of love, faith, and education. After obtaining her Bachelor's Degree, Snowie began her job search. When hearing of an opening for a "colored" teacher in Horatio, Arkansas, she and her father traveled thirty miles by horse and wagon to apply for the job. She was hired by the Horatio school system in 1938 as the only teacher for eight grades at the Cottage Hill School. In 1954, Cottage Hill, along with several other county (colored) schools was consolidated into the Sevier County Training School System in Lockesburg, Arkansas. There she taught grades one through six. In 1968, the Horatio School System was integrated and she became the first African American teacher in the school system. She taught elementary grades, music, and was the librarian until her retirement in 1978.
Snowie married Horatio native, Fred (Tommie) Brown, in 1941 and he preceded her in death in 1997. To this union was born three sons.
Preceding her in death are: her father and mother, Harvey and Julia (Edwards) Coulter; 12 siblings, Ferd, Aussie, Oscar, Ray, Nellie, Sarah, Logan, Queen, "Punkin" (died in infancy) Charlie, Claudell, and Vestella; many of her beloved in-laws, nieces and nephews.
She leaves to mourn her death and to celebrate her life her four children, ten grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, former students, her community and anyone whom she touched in her long, faithful, and giving life. Integral in her life throughout the years were her sister- and brother-in-law, both deceased. She was also a member of the Horatio Community Choir, the United Methodist Women, and the Sevier County Fair Commission.
Snowie Belle Coulter Brown was a pioneer, community activist, leader, educator, friend, mother, wife, grandmother, role model, and great grandmother. She often marveled at the tremendous changes she witnessed during her lifetime. From rubboards to automatic washers and dryers, horses and wagons to space shuttles, typewriters to smart phones; and the two-time election of the first Black President of the United States of America. Her frequent admonition to her children was: "if you want to make this a better world, it begins with you being a better person" (A better world begins with you). True to her word, Snowie Coulter Brown, the skinny country girl from Center Point, Arkansas, by her presence, and her actions, helped this world to be a better place.
Tommie Brown
March 30, 1915 - March 4, 1997
(See Veteran marker)
*Photo courtesy of Veva Foster
Contributed on 11/28/21
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Record #: 1403406