Sister Cynthia Brown, the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations board chair and a former East Orange City Clerk, died on August 1.
Brown retired last month after 52 years as a city employee. Her career spanned seven mayors, beginning with William S. Hart, Sr., who hired her as a clerk stenographer in 1974.
Mayor John Hatcher named Brown as administrator of the Rent Leveling Board, Mayor Cardell Cooper appointed her deputy city clerk, and Mayor Robert Bowser named her city clerk in 1998.
She served on the CAIR-NJ board for eight years.
“She was a tireless advocate for the civil rights of New Jersey’s Muslim community, and her leadership left an indelible mark on our work,” the organization said in a statement. “Her extraordinary commitment to her community extended across every facet of her life.”
CAIR-NJ said Brown’s passing means they have lost “not only a formidable leader but a dear friend and mentor.”
“Her absence leaves a profound void that will be felt by our staff, our board, and the countless individuals across the state whose lives she touched through her advocacy,” the statement said. “Sister Cynthia was a pillar of strength, wisdom, and unwavering dedication to justice and public service.”
Brown is survived by her daughter, Najah Akbar, and her grandchildren, Na’ilah and Halim.