Persis I. Stanton

Persis Isabella Hazard Stanton (16 January 1935 - 15 October2025)

Persis Isabella Hazard Stanton was the daughter of the late Charles Sumner and Ruth Ellen Dominis Hazard. She went home to glory with the Lord on October 15th, 2025. Called "Suza" by most of her family and friends, her father affectionately called her "Tookle". She was the 16th of 18-children born to a family comprised of 11 males and 7 females. She was the last of the 18 to transition. She was also pre-deceased by husband Mark D. Stanton of Providence, RI. Her birthplace was her family's home located at 47 Mason Street, Worcester, MA.  At that time Black people were not allowed hospital care. She died at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, RI., where her son John and daughter Persis, both tag-teamed her final watch.

As a young child Persis was injured in an auto accident that caused her legs to be placed in a cast. She had to re-learn how to walk as a result and had to be home-schooled for almost six years. When she returned to the Worcester public school system, she was found to have already acquired exceptional knowledge of grammar and vocabulary.  Her equally exceptional writing abilitiesprepared her for her later career in public and community service, and in particular, her work as a state and federal investigator. After graduating from South High School, she continued her education at Providence College alongwith specialty schools in different areas of interest. At age 50 she chose to enroll at Katherine Gibbs School in Providence RI to upgrade her skills and computer knowledge to increase her value in the job market. 

She Married Richard Bruce Brown, Sr., and had three children, Abdul Halim Muwwakkil (Muslimah) of Jacksonville, FL; John P.G. Brown (Sharon) of Johnson, RI; and Persis Sue Brown Clinton, of Worcester, MA. She also had several grandchildren, great and great grandchildren, a great, great, grandchild, and hundreds of nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews. She was always super-attentive to her progeny’s welfare and health needs. She was very proud of her family history.  Her paternal great grandfather Tower Hazard, Jr. of Harvard, MA and numerous family members were activists in the Underground Railroad. Persis’ other paternal great grandfather James Hazard of Woodstock, VT plus 40 other relatives and in-laws served in the Civil War’s, famous 54th Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry (MVI) Regiment as depicted in the movie “Glory”. Her 3rd Great grandfather Thomas Haszard who spelled his name with an “s” served three years in the Army at West Point in the Revolutionary War Era. Her maternal uncle George Thomas Dominis, Esq. was an Attorney, a pioneer in Civil Rights working within the Niagara Movement (predecessor to NAACP) the only Black Attorney in Worcester, MA for over 50 years.

Persis worked as a Director at the Girls Scouts of America and later the Model Cities program with the City of Worcester prior to relocating to the Providence, RI., Police Department and then the Rhode Island Human Rights Commission as an Investigator for almost two decades.  She ended her public service when she retired from the US Department of Labor in Boston where she worked as an Administrator and Investigator for over a decade.  In the 1970's she served as aPast Worthy Matron for the “AREME Chapter, Order of the Eastern Stars”(Masonic Lodge) in Providence, RI.

Persis was a God-fearing woman who loved humanity with all her heart.  She was the quintessential “Proverbs 31 Woman”. She was a Virtuous Woman as well as a Renaissance Woman in all aspects. She was a daughter, sister, wife,mother, nurturer, soloist, teacher, writer, reader, problem solver, motivator,effective leader, social coordinator, community activist, bona fide cooksomething she learned from her mother, fighter/warrior, pioneer. There is asaying "you can tell a tree by the fruit it bears". Persis was a servant of the Lord and her love was unmeasurable. She attended John Street Baptist Church and was also a member of the chorus for which she was a soloist who people described as having the sweet “voice of a canary”. She had a special place inher heart for the least fortunate. She was always passing out money and makingsure the hungry were fed. Although she was a physically beautiful woman,what came from her very being was the beauty of her character: warmth of hersmile, kindness in her spirit, intelligence in her action, nobility of herrighteousness, and the majesty of her wisdom.  Persis was known for her exceptional volunteerism such as 16-years with Hospice of Rhode Island, as well as being a member and volunteer with the Providence NAACP for decades.  Her motto was “We are Family Rich!!”.

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