Doris Barnes Brown My Special Angel

Annotation

"My Special Angel, Miss Beverly Ann Brown," is a story celebrating the life of a person who was born in 1962 and diagnosed at birth as a "Mongoloid," later known as Down's syndrome. At that time many "mentally retarded" persons as they were referred to, were institutionalized at birth or kept at home as "closet children." Because they were believed to be unteachable, there were no schools or vocational workshops to even try to teach them. Change was coming and I believe that God's purpose for Beverly on earth was to be a part of that change of the attitude toward and the mistreatment and neglect of the mentally challenged. Even at a young age, Beverly was a blessing spreading God's love with her hugs to everyone she met. Through her experiences on her life's journey and her desire for independence, this red-haired, energetic, beautiful lady was instrumental in helping to pave the way for other mentally challenged persons. At age fifty-five, when Beverly had fulfilled her mission and purpose on earth, God called her home.