Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 August 2001 — Page 2

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

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Founder of a child development center leaves behind a legacy

By RYAN MARSHALL Staff Writer The well-known founder of a child development center, Mamie Townsend passed away on July 28, but will live on forever to those family, friends, co-workers, and children who were touched by her. “She has touched a lot of lives and it’s more on a personal note with personal commitment to help support other people with various other things,” said Dr. Roselyn Cole, daughter of Marne Townsend. Cole is now the director of Auntie Marne’s Child Development Center, 3120 N. Emerson Ave. For those who were left with a memory of Mamie Townsend, or better known as Auntie Marne, she was a person that was caring and giving to everyone she came across. She started the center in 1969 to help children get quality care in an educational setting. The center originally started at 31 st and Baltimore before opening at the Emerson location in December of 1974. The children work with things such as computers and computer instruction, reading programs. instrumental music, and go on educational field trips, as well as receiving gourmet meals. Realizing that young people were the future, she took on the role of another great humanitarian and leader at that time, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to help lead today's children into tomorrow’s leaders. "Young children are where we have to start. We have to take active roles as parents and also in the community,” said Cole. "Her major intent was to ensure that the kids received quality care, but at the same time, receiving the education that needs to go along with it. Education was very important to

Mamie Townsend

her." Along with working as the director for the center, she was active in the community, and participated in various groups and boards. She served as a board member for the Metropolitan License Review Board and Metropolitan Board of Zoning and Appeals. She was appointed asvicechairman and a charter member of social services. She also was a member of the National Council of Negro Women. Madame C.J. Walker Business and Professional Women’s Association, among other groups. She received many awards, including the Sagamore of the Wabash in 1987 as well as a National Rose Pin Award for Outstanding Community Service from Gambia Phi Della Sorority in 1979. She was a member of Gamma Phi Delta as well as Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Her funeral was Aug. 4, at Faith United Christian Church, where she was a charter member and elder of thfc church. She retired from work at the center in 1987, when

the enrollment of the center was 550. Now, the center is bustling with children playing on the playground, listening to stories, and learning new things with story telling and interacting with others. This was what Townsend was hoping to achieve in her initial plans to make a better tomorrow for kids. “She’s been a great meriton She’s been sort of like a mother to me as well as everyone elsei She loved everyone (and) all the children,” said Toni Patton, camp leader for the center. Patton was ' one of the people whose life Auntie Marne touched. She was a volum teer for the center in high school working with her grandmother who had worked there. Patton ended up ’ staying as a result of her relationship with Townsend. “I’ve been here for 11 years and > Auntie Marne meant a lot to me (in that time). I canie right out ofdtigh school and I decided that I liked* ithere so much that I stayed. She was ' so caring,” said a Patton, while playing a game with her kids.. < :•; She left many loved ones including sister Johnnie Johnsoh,: daughter Roselyn, three grandchil-* < dren, many great grandchildren and < five great-great grandchildren. She > was the wjdow of Calvin Lewis 1 Townsend. There is also a scholarship fund in her name for those students who attended the center; and exude the qualities that she, had: giving back to the commu-. nity. along with getting good grades. Contributions are being acx cepted for the fund and checks can be made payable to Auntie Marne ’ s/ MLHT Scholarship Fund, -do Teachers Credit Union, 233LN. .Meridian St. For more information, contact the Child Development Center at (317) 547-3551.

The Indianapolis Recorder Concert Series presents Classic Soul at the Indiana State Fair starring live in concert Harold Melvin's Blue Notes featuring Sharon Paige "Badtuck" "If You Don't Know Me ly Now" "Ihe Live ILtst"

also featuring Rose Royce “Car Wash" “I'm Going Down" "Love Don't Live Here Anymore"

Enchantment "Where Do We Go From Here"

"Sunshine" "Gloria"

Friday, August 10 Indiana State Fairgrounds Grandstand Showtime 7:30 pm Gates open 6:30 pm All seats reserved $27.50 Admission includes State Fair admission Tickets available at The Indianapolis Recorder and The State Tair boxoffice with no service charge and at all TicketMaster locations ’Produced by StarTime Entertainment

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