Iva S. Brown

Iva S. Brown, 78, passed away on Friday, February 7, 2020. She was born on June 10th in Lynchburg, VA to the late Rev. Richard and Annie Lee Shapland. She was predeceased by her oldest sister, Frances Shapland Odell. Iva is survived by her husband of 53 years, Robert I. "Bob" Brown; sons Eric (Katrina) and Ryan "Bird" (Melissa), daughter Courtney (Amy); grandson, Ethan Michael Brown and granddaughters, Virginia Lee Brown, Ryan Ashley Brown and Caroline Shapland Brown; sister Ann Shapland Stephens and a large extended family. Iva grew up as a daughter of a Methodist minister. Given the nature of his professional calling, the family moved frequently throughout all parts of Virginia. She graduated from Spotsylvania High School in 1959. She went on to graduate from Emory and Henry College with a degree in English and Spanish and later earned a Master's degree in Education from Old Dominion University. Iva was a committed educator, having worked in Chesapeake Public Schools for 34 years as an English and Spanish teacher. She started in 1963 at Deep Creek High School, and went on to spend to the majority of her career at Oscar F. Smith High School. She sought to improve education in Chesapeake through active leadership and involvement in CEA, VEA and NEA. When Iva was not educating students in the classroom, she could often be found tutoring and imparting solicited and unsolicited advice and wisdom to all ages. She loved gathering around a table, she encouraged conversation, she encouraged thinking for yourself, she enjoyed political banter and throughout she demanded everyone to be respectful and maintain a sense a humor. Her laugh was infectious, her "mom look" terrifying and her hugs just right. Iva absolutely loved time with family. She was a tough loving mother and grandmother, affectionately known, amongst other things as, "Big Iva", "Grammy", "Mimi". Iva never bypassed an opportunity to spend time with her admiring grandchildren, neighbors and extended family. Her door was always open. Unfortunately, in 2006, she was first diagnosed with breast cancer and since 2013 had been in some form of treatment, having said that you would not have known. The tough love and hard-nosed approach she had as a teacher and mother, she approached cancer with an even greater level of vigor. In spite of the many challenges cancer presented to her, she never allowed cancer to affect her disposition, her willingness to help others and her spirit. To celebrate Iva's life, the family will be hosting a visitation on Friday, February 14th from 6:30-7:30 pm and a service on Saturday, February 15th at 2:00 pm at Loving Funeral Home, located at 3225 Academy Ave, Portsmouth, VA 23703. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her name to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.