Janice A. (Harrison) Brinson

Janice Harrison-Brinson passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 90 on February 10, 2024, in Bluffton, South Carolina.

The eldest daughter of the late Myrtle Waters and Otis Harrison, Sr., Janice was born on June 12, 1933 at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Queens, NY and grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, NY along with her two younger brothers, Otis Jr. (“Bubbie”) and Bruce. She was a product of the New York City Public School system attending P.S. 70, P.S 85 and Abraham Lincoln High School (Class of 1950). Janice went on to receive her Bachelor’s in Education from SUNY-Oswego (Class of 1954).

After undergrad, Janice furthered her education at Columbia University Teachers College and the American University Master’s Program in International Studies, where at one point she had considered joining the Diplomatic service.  She later also received her Master’s in Educational Administration from University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

Janice had a successful 30 plus year teaching career in K-12 education working in Brooklyn at the Ralph Ave Youth Center (Brevoort Children’s Center), Public School 137, Public School 261, Suffolk Co. NY’s Roanoke Ave. School and in Colorado at the El Paso County School District, Colorado Springs. She also served as an Adjunct Professor of Education at Colorado College.

Janice was a wonderful teacher beloved by the many students whose lives she enriched.

For her 3rd act, Janice went on to start a successful consulting firm, The Brinson Group, Inc. which developed and implemented Executive Management leadership training programs for Fortune 500 Companies incl. Coca Cola, Kimberly Clark, Federal Executive Institute, American Express, The Center for Creative Leadership as well as countless International Clients and frequent business trips throughout Europe and Asia.

Janice retired from consulting in the early 2000’s and moved from Westhampton Beach, NY to South Carolina. She lived in the Low Country Bluffton, SC & on Hilton Head Island, SC for 20 plus years.

Janice was known for her generosity, sense of humor and warm smile. She was an avid reader, and loved going to the theater and Broadway shows.  She was a great conversationalist and a history and film buff who also loved to travel the world on cruises, go boating in the low country with family, knitting, drawing and volunteering for the numerous causes she was passionate about.

Janice was a loving mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, auntie and mentor. She is joining her eldest son Kelly in heaven and is survived by her son Scott, her daughter Kimberly, her two younger brothers Otis and Bruce, her 3 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and the many nieces and nephews who she loved so dearly.

The viewing will be on Thursday, February 22nd,  2024 from 11am - Noon at Sauls Funeral Home,  Bluffton, SC with a Celebration of Life ceremony immediately following.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to the scholarship that she established at her alma mater to help future educators pursue their undergraduate degrees.

Janice Harrison Brinson '54 and Myrtle Waters Stewart Memorial Scholarship

or by mail to the

Oswego University Foundation

215 Sheldon Hall

Oswego, NY 13126

tel. (315) 312-3003.