Robin Jaylene Fulton Brown

ROBIN JAYLENE FULTON BROWN MADE HER DEBUT APPEARANCE ON THE WORLD STAGE ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1964, SHARING HER FIRST NOTE WITH A HEALTHY, JOYFUL CRY OF A NEWBORN THAT BROKE THE STILLNESS OF THE AUTUMN AIR. SHE WAS THE PRIDE AND JOY OF HER PARENTS, ROBERT FULTON AND JULIA MAE SIMS FULTON. In her formative years, the song Robin would compose, through human interactions, experiences, and life events, was becoming evident. She was naturally gifted with an ear for music at an early age, and through observation, instruction, practice, and performance, her musical abilities were refined under the tutelage of her mentor, Dr. Anthony T. Leach. Robin would become a phenomenal woman who would achieve much under the direction of God. She willingly shared her God-given talent by playing the piano and singing at family reunions, weddings, funerals, and other musical events. Her fascination with music and willingness to share that gift received strong support from the Scriptures which remind us to “Make music to the Lord............with the sound of singing.” Psalm 98:5; “Make melody in your heart to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:19-21. Robin was a kind, intelligent, humble, Christian, wife, mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, aunt, niece, cousin, teacher, friend, and musician, with a cheerful demeanor, pleasing personality, and a winning smile. She was raised by her God-fearing grandparents, Julius and Alice Sims, and her relationship with God deepened as she grew to know and love the Lord. She attended Monumental A.M.E. Church in Steelton, Pennsylvania, in her early years. In 1992, she was baptized into the Hillside Seventh-day Adventist Church and maintained her membership in several Seventh-day Adventist churches, as her family relocated to other parts of the country for new professional opportunities. In 2018, Robin returned to her childhood home in Oberlin, Pennsylvania, and resumed membership at Hillside Church, where she served as Church Musician until her passing. Her numerous acts of kindness produced beautiful notes for the composition of the song of her life. According to her cousin, “God blessed Robin with the gift of music, and she shared her talent by singing and playing whenever we were together and shared her gift with the world. Her music, the piano, and Robin seemed to flow together, naturally.” Robin’s creativity and talent were evident, not only through her musical gifts, but also through her love of arts and crafts which manifested in her designs and in the art objects she created for others to adorn and elevate celebrations and special occasions. Robin was truly a life-long learner. She completed her formal education at the Tri-Community Elementary School and Swatara Township Junior High School in the Central Dauphin School District and received her high school diploma from the Central Dauphin East High School in1982, where she made history as the first Black student to serve as Drum Majorette of the high school marching band. In pursuit of her dreams to make a positive difference in the world, Robin briefly attended the University of Miami after high school where she was initiated into the Iota Nu Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, in the Spring of 1983. At the time of her death, she was a member of the Epsilon Sigma Omega Chapter in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. After changing her academic focus, Robin transferred to Temple University in Philadelphia, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications in 1986. Her drive to achieve led her to pursue Master’s Degrees in Arts Management and Business Administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, which she completed in 1991. The writing of the stanza that would tell the story of life-long love and family began when Robin caught the eyes of a debonair, dark, and handsome, young colleague at her place of employment. They became fast friends, and on a beautiful spring day in May 1992, she agreed to spend the rest of her life with her “dark and lovely,” Clarence Brown. For thirty-two years, Clarence and Robin enjoyed a strong and loving marital relationship. From this union, Robin gained two stepsons, Clarence and Brian, whom she loved as her very own. Within a few years, the family welcomed two more sons, Jezreel and Koby. These four active young boys were the apples of their parents’ eyes. After successfully homeschooling her sons for several years, Robin “hit the books” once again. This time she set her sights on a Master of Elementary Education Degree, which she received from National University, in 2020. According to God’s design, another stanza was added to Robin’s song. A review of the details of Robin’s educational pursuits outlines the next stanza in Robin’s song and provides confirmation that God orchestrated the plans in her life in preparation for becoming a testament of His glory. It is amazing to see how He prepared her to communicate the good news of the Gospel of Christ through art, music, courses of study, a Christian lifestyle, and human connections. Robin continued to write her song as an elementary school teacher and talented musician who served as teacher and accompanist for four years in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was also an accompanist for the University of Nevada—Las Vegas Music Department. Most recently, Robin served as the Gospel Choir Director for the Milton Hershey School from 2019 – June 2024 and Director of Music Ministry at The First Baptist Church of Steelton, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. At the time of her death, she was employed as an elementary school teacher for the Hillside Seventh-day Adventist School and was everything to which a great teacher aspires, effective and impactful! She loved her students and sought to inspire them to reach their highest potential. They memorized, practiced, and reviewed this quote, daily, “Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children.” Robin wanted the hearts and behaviors of her students to change. Her students and their parents came to understand that she was firmly guiding them to appreciate that her focus was not solely on their earthly potential, but also on their eternal assurance. This focus was reflective of the guidance she provided while homeschooling her own children for several years. Both were experiences she cherished and took seriously. There is a break in the song that Robin Jaylene Fulton Brown began composing on September 29, 1964. Based on God’s own timing, her song came to a temporary pause on Sabbath, July 20, 2024. However, we believe that the melody and the song will continue at the second coming when Jesus returns. Knowing Robin, we are assured that her challenge to us would be to meet her in Heaven. Until then, we look forward with hope for her to continue her song and “sing a new song before the throne.” Revelations 14:3. On the sea of glass we hope to join in the Song of Moses and the Lamb, “Great and Marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty, Just and true are all Thy ways, King of Saints.” Revelation 15:2-3. As each of us compose our individual songs, through daily interactions with God and man, let us practice our notes through acts of kindness, positive interactions with others, and obedience to God. We encourage you to make plans to join in harmony with Robin and other saints in the heavenly chorus, in the courts above. Robin leaves to cherish her life, service, and memory: her devoted, attentive husband, Clarence; her sons, Jezreel and Koby; stepson, Clarence; daughter-in-law, Maria; granddaughters, Jayla Brown and Ermani Mathis; grandsons, Cameron and Mason Mathis; her father, Robert J. Fulton; stepmother, Estelle Fulton; her maternal uncle and aunt, Louis Sims and Erma Sims; paternal aunts, Jacqueline (Fulton) Ramsey, and Lena Turner Fulton (Bernard, Jr.); sisters, Nicole Austin-Hillery, Wendy Brown, Sunny Fulton and Cara E. Fulton; brothers-in-law, Alexander G. Hillery, II, and Michael Brown; niece, Mykenzie Brown; nephew, Jayson A. Patterson, II; and a host of Sims and Fulton cousins and extended family members. Robin was preceded in death by her mother, Julia Mae Sims Fulton; maternal grandparents, Julius Sims and Alice Blanding Sims; paternal grandparents, Esther Brown Fulton and Bernard B. Fulton, Sr.; stepson, Brian Mathis; maternal uncle, James Arthur Sims; maternal aunt, Bernice Sims; and paternal uncle, Bernard B. Fulton, Jr. FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CLICK ON THE SHARE A MEMORY TAB TO POST VIDEOS, SHARE MEMORIES, CONDOLENCES, REFLECTIONS OR SIMPLY LEAVE YOUR NAME.

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Robin Jaylene Fulton Brown

September 29, 1964 - July 20, 2024