Vanessa Anita Brown

Vanessa Anita Brown was born to the late Edna Brown and her late father Henry Davis on April 21st, 1953 in Jersey City, NJ. She was later adopted by her stepfather Benjamin Graham by the time of her birth. She was the eldest of two girls; Mae Ellen Graham being her beloved baby sister. Vanessa grew into a loving, tight knit family, sharing a close bond with her mother and sister. She would grow up to be a lifelong resident of Hudson County where she attended both elementary and high school. In her late teen years, she had plans to one day become a nurse. Family described her as being an old soul from a young age, enjoyed being around mature company, she disliked studying hard for tests and boring assemblies. As her hobbies would go, Vanessa was a songbird - voice ranging from the soprano-alto range - and she loved dancing as much as singing. Her creativity knew no bounds: from arts and crafts, making picture collages, to crocheting, interior design, doing hair, she knew not just how to work with her hands but knew how to turn everything she touched into works of extraordinary art.

During her time in Snyder, she met a military man by the name of Terrence Winstead and on her graduation day she would give birth to her eldest son, Terrence LeRoy Winstead Jr. in June 1971. Her relationship with Terrence Winstead Sr. brought about six children: Anthony Troy Winstead (1973), Vincent Tareen Brown (1974), Christopher Dwayne Brown (1975), Monte Kareem Brown (1977), Tionne Lamont Brown (1978). Between 1977 and 1978, she experienced three great losses: her mother and sister both passing months apart and her relationship with Terrance Winstead Sr. concluding. Vanessa then moved her and her six sons from Bayonne back to Jersey City where she continued to work long hours doing various customer service jobs to support her six boys on her own.

Then in 1978, she met a man by the name of Ernie Coaxum. Their relationship was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. However, Vanessa took the opportunity of financial stability to complete her educational ambitions. She received her degree in Accounting at Hudson County Community College in 1984 with certifications in shorthand and Administrative professional. She attended Stewart Tabernacle (now known as Greater Tabernacle Baptist Church in Jersey City) and spearheaded the lunch program under the late Rev. Odell Stewart Sr. in 1985. She proceeded to establish the daycare and the Children's Ministry of that church and ran both programs under Rev. Stewart's leadership. In 1986, Vanessa and Ernie welcomed their first son together, Ernest Coaxum in 1986. They went on to have three more children: Franklyn Coaxum (1990), Tiarra Estelle Brown (1993), and the baby boy Keshawn Jamal Brown (1997). In 1994, she moved her house of worship to Angelic Baptist Church where she became a lifelong member serving in the Gospel Chorus, Missionary Board, and Usher Union under Rev Sloan Gordon Sr and later his son Rev. Sloan Gordan Jr. She transitioned from Administrative Professional to her various retail careers in the mid-90s with her occupation at ShopRite in 440 in Jersey (1995-2005), Sears (2006 - 2018), and Target (2018-2025) where she eventually retired.

Vanessa was always full of life. When she showed up she was ready to have a good time. Like the Taurus she was, she was stubborn - if she didn't want to do it, she wasn't doing it. And she did exactly what she wanted to do. She loved her children and that love was doubled for her grandchildren. When she turned 70, she shared that she had big plans for the decade, plans to see her children and their children unified under her. She wanted to gather everyone together and celebrate. She was elated that she survived Covid and ready to see what was next in her life's journey.

In December 2024, she was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer that metastasized to her brain. Being an individual that never backed down from a fight, cancer was no different. She, along with her doctors, decided to attack the cancer aggressively. And the 13 month war on cancer began. There were some battles she won and some she lost. But her sword always remained in her hand. And it stayed there until she succumbed to her battle with cancer on Wednesday February 11th, 2026.

Though her life has transitioned, she has left a peculiar legacy. She is survived by her life partner Ernie Coaxum, all ten of her children: Terrence, Anthony, Vincent, Christopher, Monte, Tionne, Ernest, Franklyn, Tiarra, and Keshawn. Her grandchildren: CharDaisha Winstead, Tiovanne Winstead, Mehki Winstead, Alyscia Winstead, Vincent Brown Jr., Anthony Hurd, Angelina George, DeAngelo Brown, Serenyti and Ioanna Hatt, Tasi Brown, Christopher Brown Jr., Vanessa Brown, Joseph Brown, Marcus Brown, Lillian Brown, Mia Brown, Tionne Brown Jr., Jackson Brown, Devonne Brown. And her great grandchildren: Sofia Brown, Ja'Lani Brown. And a host of many honorary children and grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and more grandchildren and great grandchildren.