Aurelia Rutherfoord Brown

1923 - 2023

Aurelia Rutherfoord Brown

May 11, 1923 - August 6, 2023

Aurelia Rutherfoord Brown, 100, of Richmond, died on August 6, 2023, three months after celebrating her centennial birthday with family and friends. Born in Roanoke on May 11, 1923, she was the daughter of Aurelia Huger and Thomas Rutherfoord, founder of Rutherfoord Insurance, and the sister of Harriot Rutherfoord Hopkins of Daleville, who died in 1994. After attending St. Mary's College in Raleigh, Aurelia married Edward Trigg Brown in her hometown of Roanoke in 1949. The couple settled in Danville where they raised four children and Ned had a 34-year career with John W. Daniel Construction Co. An active member of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Aurelia served on the YWCA and Danville Regional Hospital boards.

After nearly sixty years in Danville, the Browns moved to Richmond to live near their children and were embraced by their Chatham Square neighborhood. When Ned died in 2011, Aurelia was sustained by family, neighbors, and her dear friend Polly Cardozo. Aurelia's love of the mountains led her family to beautiful Wintergreen where she, Ned and the three boys built their "home away from home" of 47 years. Aurelia was fiercely devoted to family and friends in Danville and Richmond throughout her long life. Curious and caring by nature, she never met a stranger and established an immediate rapport by taking time to get to know people. Strong and resilient, she set the finest example right until the end. Her kind and gracious spirit never wavered. She is survived by three children, Edward Trigg Brown Jr (Carrington), Thomas Rutherfoord Brown (Margy), and Aurelia Huger Brown Lewis (Jimmy), all of Richmond, and a niece, Harriot Duvall Graham of Glen Ridge, NJ. Her eldest son, David Tucker Brown III, died in 2020, predeceased by his wife Diana, who died in 2004. Aurelia adored her seven grandchildren, Edward Trigg Brown, III, Thompson Willcox Brown, Thomas Rutherfoord Brown, Jr., Tucker Valentine Brown, Margaret West Brown Gabbert, Anne Aurelia Huger Lewis, and Eliza Hollister Lewis; three step-grandsons, Lawrence, Rob, and Merrill Cann; and four great-grandchildren, Edward Trigg Brown IV, Merrill Juhee Brown, Sarah Philippa Brown, and Thomas Rutherfoord Brown, III. Her family thanks Pauline Cox, Irene Duah, Mary Jones, Tamika Sayles, and Sedona Jones for their care and support. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 21 at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Richmond followed by a reception at The Commonwealth Club. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her honor may be made to Sheltering Arms Foundation Post Office Box 91758 Richmond, VA 23291, or Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 8 N Laurel St, Richmond, VA 23220.