Mauryne Brent

Mauryne Brent was born on November 14, 1921 as Mauryne Eleanor Taylor, the daughter of Julian and Viola Thompson Taylor. Her entrance as a performer came when she was very young singing duets with her father in churches and the gingerbread bandshell at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Julian Taylor, Mauryne's father, was among other things insurance salesman, dance teacher, radio disc jockey, concert soloist, and evangelist. For a few years in the early 1930s he accepted a call to pastor Ebenezer Baptist Church in Martinsburg, West Virginia, USA. The family lived there until Mauryne's parents divorced. They had been separated much of the time during his pastorate. Later Julian served the Macedonia Baptist Church in Ansonia, Connecticut, USA as pastor for 42 years. In returning to the nation's capital Mauryne's mother, Viola, secured a position as an elevator operator for Woodard & Lothrop, Washington's premiere department store.

Mauryne Taylor was one of 124 mid-year graduates of Garnet-Patterson Junior High School at commencement exercises on January 29, 1936. She was among the 46 students to attend Dunbar High School, one of "the three colored high schools" in the District of Columbia, USA. In high school she was an honor student and the class poet.

She was married to Leland Simmons Brent briefly until his accidental death on November 9, 1943. Mauryne's second marriage was to William W. Grant, Jr.

, a crane operator, on August 20, 1945 in Washington, DC, USA. They lived in Ansonia, Connecticut, USA.

An original composition was recited by Mauryne Brent on April 7, 1946 broadcast over radio station WWDC. It was part of the Institute of Race Relations broadcasts, "Americans All." The purpose of the series was to fight job discrimination based on color, faith, or place of national origin and to support new laws that would penalize those who deny American men and women their natural rights. Mauryne's composition was entitled, "A New American.".

She was a model, singer, writer, poet and actress, known for Come On, Cowboy! (1948) and The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp.

Jazz pianist and composer Billy Taylor was Mauryne Taylor's cousin. After Hollywood blocked her career path she worked with her cousin at the Wells, a Harlem jazz club. She also sang at jazz clubs on 52nd Street and wrote lyrics for Arnold Records.

Her recurring role as Mildred, a maid, on Wyatt Earp began with a credited appearance on the fifth episode of season one in 1955. None of her later appearances were credited, although on many episodes she had speaking roles.

Mauryne Taylor Brent's autobiography, "The Heart Speaks," was published by Vantage Press in 1976.

With Mauryne at the time of her passing in August 2013 were her daughter, Leilani Clarkson; son, Desta Brent; grandchildren, Gina, Shane, Michele, Janelle, Alexis, Che and Elijah.