Toni Brown

Toni departed this earth on October 15, 2025.
She was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on November 22, 1947, to Morton and Geraldine Mann. She is survived by husband Clifford (Buster) Brown and daughter Mary Brown of Corsicana, and sister Geri Hansen of Washington D.C.
Toni wrote that she wanted to be remembered as a devoted wife and enthusiastic mother ("to say the least") of Mary Brown, and a careful conservator of the blessings she was allowed to receive in her lifetime.
She described herself as a "sorta stepmother" to her husband's other children, Warren, Leighton and Scott, and Toni dearly loved Warren's wife Louise and their children, Christopher, Peter and Michael.
While growing up in Kansas City, Kansas, Toni attended both public and private schools and graduated from Barstow School in 1965.
She attended the University of Tulsa where she earned a BA in English and subsequently earned a MA from the University of Texas at El Paso. Toni moved to Austin to purse an advanced degree, graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a PhD in higher education leadership and policy. While obtaining her PhD, she worked at the Texas Education Agency in Austin. Her graduate work and dissertation resulted in creation of the Texas Student Follow-up Information System (Tex-SIS). This program, with Toni's assistance, was initiated in at least two additional states, Michigan and Mississippi.
Toni married Clifford (Buster) Brown in Corsicana in 1982 and in 1984 birthed the joy of her life, Mary Elizabeth.
Only surpassed by her love for and focus on her daughter Mary, was Toni's focus on education and her community volunteer work.
After ending her professional career, Toni concentrated on being a wife, mother and serving Corsicana and Navarro County. She was dedicated to increasing the number of students in the county who wanted to go beyond a high school education. Toni did this with countless volunteer hours with the Navarro County College Achievement Program (CAP). Over many years, she met with hundreds of students who wanted to go to college, explaining the college admission process and financial aid.
Toni had a love for books, movies, travel and Willie Nelson music. Her friends will remember Toni as a true and loyal friend.
In closing, Toni wrote, "Life should be full of laughter, and fun, and in sharing one's gifts." These are her last words, "Bye y'all!!!!...pretty good for a Yankee gone Texan." And, of course, Toni would have loved knowing she had the last word. Hugs from her to all of you.