By Kay S. Pedrotti Vickie Brownlee was never far from walking a long hard road during her lifetime. After many difficulties, she is fulfilling her dream of opening a day care center. Brownlee, one of the pioneers of Lamar County’s first pre-K program in the old Milner school, has been with the Lamar County school system for 15 years, mostly as a paraprofessional with both Lamar elementary and middle schools. She says she always loved being with children. Vickie Brownlee was never far from walking a long hard road during her lifetime. After many difficulties, she is fulfilling her dream of opening a day care center. Brownlee, one of the pioneers of Lamar County’s first pre-K program in the old Milner school, has been with the Lamar County school system for 15 years, mostly as a paraprofessional with both Lamar elementary and middle schools. She says she always loved being with children. Brownlee’s hard road started at age 6 when her mother died; she and each of her two siblings went to separate aunts. She married and had three children before her own health problems struck. In 2000 she experienced symptoms of renal disease; because both kidneys failed, she went on dialysis for more than three hours, three days a week, for more than four years. After a successful kidney transplant, she recovered and resumed working. ‘Then my husband, Donald ‘˜Donnie’ Brownlee, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He had a defibrillator implanted and was back and forth to hospitals, suffering three strokes ‘“ the last left him paralyzed on his left side. He went through therapy and learned to walk, talk and eat again. When he came home he still needed assistance but was much better. Then on Christmas Eve 2012, he had a massive seizure. By the time the ambulance reached us, he had stopped breathing and they were preparing to airlift him to Emory using breathing apparatus. ’When the helicopter was overhead, I felt as though I was in the middle of a hurricane because of all the debris blowing around. I prayed, leaning on the ambulance because my strength was gone, but for some reason it came back. I couldn’t go in the helicopter with him. ’He miraculously pulled through that. They called him ‘˜Trooper’ at Emory University hospital because of his will to live. We moved into a nursing facility in Thomaston where we could be together and I continued nursing him. He was released to home and hospice, and one day he told me, ‘˜Vicki, it’s time for me to go home.’ I knew what he meant but I didn’t want to face it; I started to pray for him to have life and the Lord told me, ‘˜Do not pray a selfish prayer.’ So I prayed the Lord’s will would be done for him. Three days later he died.’ Donnie Brownlee was well-known around Barnesville, said their 28-year-old daughter Shaneika Murphy. He was a custodian in area school systems, worked at Milner Milling, had his own lawnmower repair business and did a lot of work at B&L and the laundromat. ’They (her parents) were there for each other,’ Murphy said. Her siblings are Moneika Brownlee, 25, of Thomaston and Donavan Brownlee of Barnesville, who attends Valdosta State College. All three are Lamar County High School graduates. ‘I can’t say enough good about Emory hospitals and the Georgia Transplant Association,’ said Vickie. ‘Without them I’d never have been able to realize this dream of a day-care center.’ After struggling financially during all the illnesses, she purchased the old Kids Corral on Academy Drive and is renovating it to accommodate up to 57 students. Vickie is a member of Rehoboth Deliverance Church of God in Christ in Barnesville, where she is the secretary. Her pastor, the Rev. Bettie Ann Pace, says of Vickie: ‘Vickie Brownlee is one of the most humble, sweetest most lovable people I’ve ever met. She’s a true woman of God and I’m grateful God has blessed her with her dream.’ Pace also told an anecdote about Donnie, as he was recovering from his paralysis. ‘He told me, ‘˜Pastor, I really appreciate you trusting Vicki and letting her work here, but don’t overload my wife, please.’ That showed how much he cared for her.’ Both superintendent Dr. Bill Truby and elementary principal Dr. Andrea Scandrett had only praise for Vickie. Scandrett said, ‘She’d always do whatever I needed her to do and she was eager to take classes and learn all she could.’ ’Mrs. Brownlee is one of those people you can’t help not only liking but loving,’ said Dr. Truby. ‘Her love for people and the Lord is unquestioned and uncommon. I’m not surprised at her success. She works at it and deserves it.’ Vickie herself said, ‘I’m doing this story in memory of my husband. We had tough times but without his love and support and God’s blessings I wouldn’t be where I am.’
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