Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Marvin D. Brailsford ’59 and June Samuel Brailsford ’60
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Aug. 5, 2026) – Every day, students, faculty and staff enter the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences carrying the name of a woman whose life reflected the very values she championed: education, service, creativity, and generosity.
Prairie View A&M University is mourning the loss of alumna, philanthropist and longtime University supporter June Samuel Brailsford ’60, who passed away July 25, 2026, at the age of 87. Her lifelong commitment to music, education, community, and her alma mater leaves a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of Panthers.
Born April 11, 1939, in Wiergate, Texas, Brailsford developed an early love for music while growing up in Beaumont. After graduating from Charlton Pollard High School, she continued her education at PVAMU where she majored in music, performed with the University choir, and earned a bachelor’s degree in music in 1960.
It was also at Prairie View that she met fellow student Marvin D. Brailsford ’59. The two married later that year and began a partnership built on family, faith, and service that would span more than six decades.
While supporting her husband’s military career and raising their family, Brailsford continued pursuing her passion for music and education. She completed advanced studies at Lamar University, Iowa State University, and Jacksonville State University, earned a master’s degree in music from Trenton State College in 1981, and studied music at The Juilliard School.
Her career and service reflected a deep belief in the power of music and education to transform lives. She taught elementary school in Anniston, Alabama, and later directed band and choir at Zweibrücken American High School in Germany. Throughout her life, she served as a minister of music, choir director, organist, and pianist at churches across the United States and Germany.
Her musical accomplishments included performing with Celine Dion and John Tesh at the Wolf Trap Amphitheater in Virginia, performing with gospel artist Shirley Caesar in Germany, and serving as an accompanist for the Paul Hill Chorale and Children’s Choir at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Beyond her musical contributions, Brailsford dedicated herself to serving others. She supported military families during times of deployment, including during the Gulf War, and volunteered with organizations including the American Red Cross, Army Community Services and Route One Corridor Housing Incorporated. She also remained actively engaged in civic and community organizations, serving on the Beaumont Historic Landmark Commission and the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Her devotion to service extended deeply to Prairie View A&M University.
Alongside her husband, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Marvin D. Brailsford ’59, she became a steadfast advocate and supporter of the University. The couple gave their time, leadership, and resources to advance opportunities for students and strengthen the institution they loved.
Brailsford played an important role in University initiatives, including the 2003-2008 Capital Campaign, the early development of the Prairie View A&M Foundation, fundraising efforts for Panther Stadium, and countless alumni engagement activities. A passionate supporter of the arts, she also championed the acquisition of Steinway pianos for the University, helping create opportunities that continue to enrich students’ educational and cultural experiences.
Through scholarships, endowments, and philanthropic support, the Brailsfords demonstrated a lasting commitment to ensuring future generations of Panthers could achieve their goals. Their dedication was honored through the naming of the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences, creating a permanent reminder of their impact on Prairie View A&M University.
In 2025, the couple was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation, recognizing a lifetime of leadership, service and commitment to higher education.
Throughout her life, Brailsford received numerous honors, including the Molly Pitcher Award for Outstanding Community Service, the Department of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Award, the Department of the Army Distinguished Civilian Service Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Black College Alumni Foundation. She was also recognized in Marquis Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who of American Women.
A devoted member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Beaumont, Brailsford served as a deaconess, organized and directed the hymn choir, and led Bible study. She was a life member of the NAACP and the Prairie View A&M University Alumni Association and was active in The Links, Incorporated and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society.
June Samuel Brailsford’s life was defined by a commitment to uplifting others, through music, education, faith, service, and philanthropy. Her legacy remains woven into the fabric of Prairie View A&M, where the college that bears her name stands as a lasting tribute to her commitment to education, the arts and future generations of Panthers.
The University extends its deepest condolences to Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Marvin D. Brailsford, their family, friends, and all who were touched by Mrs. Brailsford’s remarkable life.
This story includes biographical details shared through Mrs. June Samuel Brailsford’s obituary and information provided by Prairie View A&M University Alumni Relations.
-PVAMU-