Is there a doctor in the house? A tribute to Mae Alice and George Brinson, Jr.

Our parents George Brinson Jr and Mae Alice Brinson raised four daughters in Swainsboro, Georgia. At times, it was tough to raise four daughters, but our parents worked long hard hours to make ends meet. At no time did our parents grumble over the sacrifices that they were making for us; they just did what needed to be done as caring parents. Despite the odds, they held onto a powerful belief: education could change everything.

Determined to provide their four daughters with opportunities they never had, George and Mae Alice created a home filled with love, hard work, and the idea that anything was possible. Many evenings, after a long day of work, they would sit with us, encouraging us to dream big. They discussed the importance of perseverance and working hard to obtain our goals. They also told us to be independent and not rely on someone else to take care of you. These values forever stayed present in our minds.

Inspired by our parents’ sacrifices and resilience, we studied with relentless focus. While Mom and Dad couldn’t offer us fancy tutors or expensive schools, they made sure to instill in us the value of education, hard work, and believing in ourselves. Our parents’ unwavering support, combined with our ambition, fueled our success.

Years passed, and the daughters all excelled academically. Three of us graduated from prestigious universities, overcame countless challenges, and eventually became doctors. I, Dr. Darlene Brinson-Moore graduated from Walden University. Dr. Deirdre Brinson-Brown graduated from NOVA Southeastern University and Dr. Denise Brinson-Heard graduated from the University of Georgia.

When we earned our degrees, Mom and Dad beamed with pride. Though they never attended college themselves, they had given us the most valuable lesson of all – that with determination, love, and sacrifice, anything was possible. We, now doctors, make it our mission to give back and to take care of our parents in every aspect. Although, we lost our mom over three years ago, we find solitude in knowing that we were there for her every minute in her time of need, and she never had to “want” for anything. That is what we strive to do by taking care of our parents as they once did us. Our dad is currently reaping the benefits on a regular basis, especially on his birthday, Christmas, Father’s Day and any other occasions that he comes up with. Our dad is a “Girl Dad”, and we do love him so.

Currently, I am the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Academic Services at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. I have worked at five universities serving as Acting Athletic Director, Senior Woman Administrator, Deputy Title IX Officer and Head Track and Field/ Cross Country. As a coach, Darlene Moore has won 22 NCAA Conference Championships and has been inducted into three college halls of fame – Albany State University, Florida A&M University and Fort Valley State University. I am a trendsetter for Swainsboro and the country when it comes to my career in athletics. I received my Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Albany State University, then earned my Master of Education in Health and Physical Education from Georgia Southwestern State University. Lastly, I obtained my Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Walden University.

Dr. Denise Heard is the Vice-President of Research Programs for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association in Tucker, Georgia. Dr. Heard has received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, a Master of Avian Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Poultry Science, all from the University of Georgia. She is a board-certified poultry veterinarian through the American College of Poultry Veterinarians. Whenever there is a bird-flu outbreak, Dr. Heard is on call to help keep the poultry and the consumers safe. Dr. Heard is a trailblazer by being the first female African American veterinarian from Swainsboro.

Dr. Deirdre Brown is the eldest of the four sisters and is currently employed at Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services in Lawrenceville, Georgia. She is a rehabilitation transition counselor for the Gwinnett County School System. Dr. Brown received her Bachelor of Science in Office Administration from Georgia College and State University. She earned her Master of Education in Vocational Education from North Carolina A&T State University. Lastly, she obtained her Doctor of Education in Higher Educational Leadership from NOVA Southeastern University.

Daphne Brinson is currently employed with the Emanuel County School System as the secretary clerk at Swainsboro Elementary School in Swainsboro. Ms. Brinson received certifications in medical transcription, word processing and phlebotomy from Swainsboro Tech. As sisters, we were delighted that Ms. Brinson decided to continue to reside in Swainsboro so that she could assist our parents, should they need any help. Although Ms. Brinson did not decide to pursue a doctorate degree, the opportunity is still there, and she will have a lot of support from her three sisters. Just know that the sky is the limit.

We, the daughters, would like to express our deepest gratitude for all the love, guidance and support that our parents have given us throughout our lives. They have shaped us into the productive citizens that we are today. We are truly blessed to have them both as our parents. We hope that the work that we have done will inspire others and keep the legacy of our parents alive.

With all our love,

Deirdre, Darlene, Daphne & Denise