Audrey E. Brown

Audrey E. (Barrow) Brown, 93, of Worcester, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Friday, April 12, 2024 while surrounded and serenaded by her family. She was predeceased by the love of her life, Ernest C. Brown, Sr., in 1989, with whom she shared 35 wonderful years of marriage.
Audrey leaves her devoted children: Dorothy Cox and her husband Lionel, of Worcester; Elizabeth Cronan and her husband Michael, of Millbury; Diane Crawford and her fiancé Raphus Causey, of Auburn; Susanne Logan and her husband David B. Logan, Sr., of Worcester; Ernest C. Brown, Jr. and his fiancée Avis Wade, of Worcester; Matthew M.E. Brown, of Worcester, and Raphael W. Pearsall, Jr., of Hollywood, FL. She leaves beloved grandchildren: Christopher Crawford, Jonathan Crawford, Marcus Cox, and Michaela Logan, all of Worcester; a great-grandson, Javery Crawford, of Webster; her cherished siblings, Shirley F. Barrow Carter, of Worcester; Anita M. Barrow, of New Jersey; and Herbert A. Barrow, Jr., of Thailand; along with many adoring nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and friends. Audrey was predeceased by her parents, Herbert A. Barrow, Sr. and Dorothy (Rickards) Perkins Barrow, and grandsons, Nathaniel A. Logan, David B. Logan, Jr.; and her sister, Lois Perkins Cato.
Audrey was born in Boston and raised and educated in Worcester. She was a graduate of Classical High School, and later (1949), she and her sister Shirley were the first Colored students admitted to the Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing. After deliberations by the City Council, school administration, faculty, and the student body, all agreed unanimously to accept Audrey and Shirley into the nursing program. After graduating as a Registered Professional Nurse, Audrey attended St. Augustine Institute, Assumption College, earning her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education, and a second Master's Degree in Nursing from Anna Maria College.
She began a brilliant, lengthy career in nursing and education, starting at City Hospital, where she was Head Nurse. Audrey then worked at Dean Street Health Center as a Nurse Administrator and at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Worcester Academy as Campus Nurse. Millbury High School was her next mission, where she was an Educator for health careers. She then worked at UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus, where she was the Employee and Student Health Coordinator. Audrey retired as a Case Manager at Fairlawn Rehabilitation in Worcester in 1997.
In her free time, Audrey enjoyed traveling, which included visiting every continent and more than 25 countries. Gardening, canning, making homemade jams and jellies, bird watching, camping, needlework, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and cooking were among her passions.
She was an active member of St. Matthew's Church, for nearly 80 years, serving in many leadership roles. Audrey, above all, cherished spending time with her beloved family and friends.
A shining light has left us, but her loving, determined, and passionate spirit lives on in her legacy. Audrey was a powerhouse in everything she put her mind to. She will be deeply missed.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org/donate); St. Matthew's Church, 695 Southbridge Street, Worcester, MA 01610
(https://www.stmatthewsworcester.org/home.html), the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (MSPCA) (https://www.mspca.org/donate-now/); and/or to the Alumni Association of Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing, Annie Vigeant Graduate Scholarships (https://www.worcester.edu/alumni-giving/scholarships/).
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Audrey's family between 9 AM and 10 AM on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at the BRITTON-WALLACE FUNERAL HOME, 91 Central Street, Auburn. Her funeral service will follow at 11 AM at St. Matthew's Church, 695 Southbridge Street, Worcester. Her burial will be held in Rural Cemetery.