Shawnda Brown, age 46, affectionately called “Shawandah” by her children, passed away on Sunday March 19, 2023 surrounded by family and friends after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Shawnda was born on December 1, 1976 to Rickey Thompson and Ethel Morris. Shawnda graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 1995 before pursuing a career in the US Army. After holding several civilian roles where she honed her people leadership skills, procurement expertise, and process rigor, she was most recently employed with the Commonwealth of Virginia leading a team of Procurement Specialists with the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS).

Shawnda is survived by three children Jermaine James, Thomia Brown, and Shawn Brown, her parents, Rickey Thompson (Terry) and Ethel Morris (Joe), four aunts, Emily Thomas (William), Esther Nelson (Charles), Henrietta Woody, and Darlene Ferrell, two uncles, Roney Thompson (Mary) and Raymond Morris (Elmira) and a host of cousins. She was predeceased by her grandparents, Earnest Thompson Sr. (Courtney) and Fleming Morris (Bernice), three uncles, Shirley Morris (Linda), Earnest Thompson Jr. (Brenda) and Lloyd Morris.

Shawnda was a stranger to no one and found great purpose sharing in the successes, joys, and challenges of those around her. Shawnda was authentically and wholeheartedly there for those in her life. She especially loved spending time with family and friends whether it was vacationing, listening to music, having great conversations, playing cards, or just enjoying a glass of wine. She had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge so she was often reading books and listening to various podcasts. She was also an avid Dallas Cowboys fan and loved traveling to Texas to see them play live but what was most important to Shawnda was helping others whether that meant offering them a place to stay, food to eat, a shoulder to lean on, or a listening ear.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Shawnda’s name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.