John Bligh
- Retired Teacher
Grace Thorpe-Brathwaite, a lifelong educator who taught in the city public school system, on the college level, as a missionary and at her church, died on Jan. 18, 2021, of natural causes. She was 90.
Grace was a UFT member for 26 years. She taught algebra and science at MS 246 in Flatbush, Brooklyn, until her retirement in 1991. From 1995-2001, she was an adjunct professor at the College of New Rochelle.
She was also a workshop presenter, a motivational speaker and an active member of her church and community.
During a memorial service in January 2021, relatives, friends and admirers described her as a pillar of Beulah Church of the Nazarene in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and a caretaker for her family and community. She was passionate about her faith and dedicated to sharing it with others.
Donna Marie Stokes, one of the speakers, said Grace was her 7th-grade algebra teacher 60 years earlier.
“I am so grateful for all that she taught me, all she poured into me,” said Stokes, who became Grace’s lifelong friend.
Mayor Eric Adams, who was Brooklyn borough president at the time, issued a proclamation on Jan. 31, 2021, thanking Grace for her service to the community and designating the day as Grace A. Brathwaite Memorial Day.
After attending Hunter High School in Manhattan, Grace graduated from Hunter College with a bachelor of arts degree. She earned a bachelor of science degree from Nyack College and master’s degrees in secondary education from New York University and in religious education from the New York Theological Seminary.
From 1961-64, before she started teaching in New York City, Grace was a missionary teacher in the Republic of Sudan, Africa.
Grace was the christian education director at her church and was involved in Children’s Church, Vacation Bible School and Family Summer Camps. She also served as executive director of compassionate ministries for the Church of the Nazarene (Brooklyn zone) and the Hope City Empowerment Center in Brooklyn.
Her hobbies included cooking, baking, gardening, writing, tutoring and counseling.
Grace is survived by her eldest brother, Herbert C. Thorpe; a daughter, Edith V. Ford; a son, Kevin Brathwaite; a niece, Jessica Thorpe; nephews Clifton Thorpe and Joseph Thorpe Jr.; and many grandchildren, godchildren and other extended family members and friends.
Condolences may be sent to
284A Stuyvesant Ave.,
Brooklyn, NY 11221.
Just seeing this. Would regularly stop by her home until I became caretaker for my husband. She was my mentor when I became a science teacher at Walt Whitman in the 70’s . Rest well my dear friend.
I just saw this wow
Mrs Brathwaite was my 6th and 7th grade science teacher in (back then called) Walt Whitman junior high school 246, she was one of my favorite teacher to had and to learn from.
I last saw her on Albany Ave & St.Johns Place back in 2000 and she said well hello there and we embraced each and she as me did I become a winner which means did I become a professional like I told her as a child in jr. high school I would.
Grace said to are you a supervisor and I told yes I am at the united states postal, she said that’s my winner.
I will always love Ms. Brathwaite for installing in me as her student to alway try hard and work hard and you will be a winner!
Sleep In Peace In Heaven