Charmayne Brown

Charmayne was born March 20, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois to Harold "Rudy" and Jeraldine Bell. She accepted the Lord into her life as a young adult. Thus, began her life of service as a faithful servant of the Lord.

In 1995, Charmayne started Women Helping Women, where she impacted the lives of many women and children. In 2001, God gave her a vision and Living Refuge, a non-profit organization, was established to assist people in the community of Pine Bluff. In January of 2004, in her continuous service, Charmayne began working at the Hope Crisis Pregnancy Center as an administrative assistant. There she was able to assist clients with community service referrals and life lessons.

Charmayne attended and graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She attended Milwaukee Area Technical college, where she received an Associate of Arts degree in Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science in 1986. She continued pursuing her education at ITT Technical Institute in 1988, where she earned a Certificate of Proficiency. In July of 1995, she began her career at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as an Administrative Assistant. After 26 years of providing excellent customer service, which won her the Chancellor's Customer Service Award, she retired from UAPB.

On August 1, 1990, Vernon and Charmayne were joined by God in holy matrimony. Their love story spanned more than 36 years.

On November 4, 2024, our Heavenly Father called Charmayne home to her final resting place. She was preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, Lewis and Alice Brown; siblings, Travis Wesley and Dethora Crenshaw; her eldest son, Charles Hudson, and her best friend and prayer partner, Marilyn Burch.

Charmayne leaves a legacy of treasured memories with her loving husband, Vernon Brown; her devoted sons, Cotis (Kajuana) Gurndy of Pine Bluff, and Joshua Bell of Dallas, Texas; her daughter, Vernita (Joffra) Burns of Pine Bluff; eight grandchildren, A'Mauri, A'Miah, Nakeel, Peyton, Jai'Hunter, Joffra IV, Mason and J'Brielle; brothers, Darryl Bell of Pennsylvania, Harold (Bobbi) Bell, Dion Bell and Batties Wesley, all of Wisconsin; sisters, Anya Wesley, Edith Kimbrough, Freddie (Sylvester) Jacobs of Wisconsin, and Melanie Bell of Georgia; and a host of nephews, nieces, extended family members and friends.

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