Cynthia Denise Brown was born in New York, New York on October 9, 1958 to LaVerne Martin Brown (later Broadnax) and Robert Brown. She departed this earthly life on November 11,2016 at Duke Medical Center, Durham, N.C. She was the maternal granddaughter of Willie M. Martin and Laura Carter Martin and paternal granddaughter of Beatrice Oaks Brown all who are deceased. Other loved ones who preceded her in death, sister Barbara L. Brown and brother Christopher Bernard Broadnax.

Cynthia Brown, a resident of Reidsville, North Carolina until the 8th grade, attended Holmes Junior and Morehead Senior High Schools in Eden, N.C. The eldest of six children, she received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C. and her Masters of Public Affairs from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro (UNC-G).
For over 30 years she worked with vulnerable communities to increase their ability to build their own organizations, build effective alliances, and advocate for public policies that addresses their needs. The work focused on worker's rights, their health and safety, welfare reform, living wage work, environmental justice and stewardship, sustainable development. For the last six years, as a trainer with the dRworks (dismantling Racism) Training Team she continued to address the impact racism, sexism, class-ism, hetero-sexism, homophobia had on undermining our work for justice.
Immediately upon completion of her graduate studies she became the Assistant Director in a shelter for battered women and their children in Greensboro, and subsequently, Shelter Director in High Point, N.C. Cynthia was Co-chair of the N.C. Coalition against Domestic Violence that she helped to establish and North Carolina representative to the National Coalition against Domestic Violence during this same period.
For 4 years, she lived in Lexington, Kentucky where she was Leadership Program Director, then Interim Executive Director for Southeast Women's Employment Coalition (SWEC). Cynthia was employed by Southerners for Economic Justice (SEJ) in various positions where in her last position; she was SEJ's Executive Director. During her time in that role, she served on the Durham City Council for one term. Upon her resignation from SEJ, she ran as the People's Candidate in the 2002 Democratic Primary for the U.S, Senate.

Until illness prevented her from working, she worked with The Conservation Fund as a consultant and then employee for 15 years working to help strengthen organizations across N.C. For 2 years during this period, Cynthia co-chaired the first United States Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

As a resident in Reidsville, N.C. Cynthia was baptized and worshipped in St. Paul United Methodist Church where she learned strong Christian values that guided her through her life. Upon relocation to Durham, NC she became a member of Russell Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

As a fellow in the W.K. Kellogg National Fellowship Program she travelled internationally to study cultural, racial, and economic justice issues in Australia, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, Ghana, Guatemala, New Zealand, South Africa, Togo, and Zimbabwe. Additional travels included Cuba, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, and China where she learned about the global economy while learning other important lessons about the country's ethnicity, culture, class, and history.

Surviving loved ones to treasure memories of her: Siblings: Donna Jumper; Eric Broadnax; Lisa Jackson; special loved one and life partner Robert Meeks; Aunts and Uncles: Lucy Bolden (Thomas); Doris Ferguson; Melvin "Buddy" Martin; Barbara Martin. Nieces and nephews: Gregory Brown (Belinda), Latosha Irving, Justin Brown (Doris), Ammi Fleming (Frank), Brandon Jumper, Darius Woodson, Eric Broadnax, Christopher Martin, Cheree Broadnax, Adrian Broadnax, Latoya Richardson, Aquilla Polk. Cousins: Kimberly and Vanessa Bolden, Jeffrey Ferguson (Nyree) and many other family and friends.

A memorial service celebrating Cynthia's life will take place at Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4907 Garrett Rd, Durham, NC 27707, on Thursday, November 17, 2016. The service will begin at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following organizations: Spirithouse, PO Box 61865, Durham NC 27715, spirithouse-nc.org; CAARE, Inc, 214 Broadway St., Durham, NC 27701, caareinc.org; Cynthia Brown Social Justice Memorial Scholarship, Bennett College, 900 E. Washington St., Greensboro, NC 27401.

McLaurin Funeral Home is serving the family.

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