Gertrude Brown

On Friday, May 13th, 2022 at 12:55, after 90 fabulous years on earth, Gertrude Brown went home to rest. Surrounded by her loved ones at home, she passed peacefully shrouded in their love and absolute respect. 
 
A true lady in every sense, Gertrude is survived by her four children, daughter, Carroll Humphrey and her husband, Terry, of London, UK; son, Hughie Brown of Telford, UK; son, Cary Brown and his fiancé Dionne Wiggan, of Orlando; and daughter, Janet Riggs and her husband, Brennan, of Orlando and two grandchildren, Jordan Riggs, and Efrain Riggs. 
 
Born in Salters Hill, Jamaica, daughter of the late Ezekiel Beckford and Vida (Kerr) Malcolm. 
 
On March 23, 1960, she married her husband, Hugh Brown, who preceded her in death. 
 
She became a Registered Nurse in 1958 and was a true caregiver to the very end. She loved her job for the 34 years she served as a nurse in London, and the 12 here in the US. After completing her training at the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow, Scotland, she moved to London where she married Hugh, her High School sweetheart who had followed her to the UK. They went on to have 4 children. An avid gardener she kept a beautiful garden always blooming with roses, tulips and other flowers. A lady who took extreme pride in her house and always kept the home immaculate, but always warm and welcoming to all. 
 
As a mother, she was strict when it was required, but always fair and ever so loving. There was nothing she would not do for the betterment of her children, and was their biggest cheerleader, a shoulder to cry on, and a soft place to fall when needed. Never having a favorite, just tending to whatever child needed help and guidance from moment to moment; she was amazing. 
 
In 1992, the couple took early retirement and moved to be in the sun again making a base in Orlando, Florida. Gertrude went on to nurse until 2004 when she retired to spend more time with two new men who had recently entered her life, her grandchildren. Jordan and Efrain were the world to their grandparents. Gertrude loved those two boys with her entire mind, body and soul. There was nothing she would not do for them. School plays, soccer, baseball, basketball, band (to name a few), she was there front and center. Childhood illness never kept her away from her boys, in fact she was sometimes the only person who could do a strep swab or give an injection to these very privileged grandsons, and she loved them in a way only a grandparent could and then some. There was nothing too good for her boys or “poppets” (an English term of endearment that she called them). The love, kindness, time and fun she shared with her grandsons is shown by the loss her passing has had on all of us, but especially Jordan and Efrain. 
 
In the final chapter of her vast book, Alzheimer’s Disease took some of her memory but it did not take her caring, funny, loving, strong intelligent heart. 
 
She will be missed but never, ever forgotten.