Patricia Marion Fagerstrom Brown, 80, of Winder, passed away peacefully on the evening of January 5, 2025 after an extended illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Lawrence Brown, her daughter Deborah Carol Brown, and her mother, Lena Adell Brandon.
Brown
Patricia will be missed by her two sons, Gerald Lee Fowler Brown and Joseph Sales Edward Brown of Winder, Georgia. She also leaves behind her sister, Joan Adell Jones of Cumming, Georgia, and her niece, Robyn Adell Lee, and family of Cameron, S.C., and brother Emile Joseph Fagerstrom III and family of Pensacola, Fla.
Patricia was a woman with a lifelong passion for uplifting those in need. Beginning in the late 1960s, she embarked on a career dedicated to helping others. She started her own business guiding individuals on their career paths, and later took on a leadership role with the Florida District 3 Mental Health Board.
Upon moving to Georgia, she became executive director of Gwinnett County’s CETA/PIC programs. Driven by her compassionate spirit, Patricia continued to offer consulting and personnel training through her own companies, Advancement Concepts Inc. and Adventure Personnel Inc.
Her talents and dedication were widely recognized, earning her over 30 appointments and accolades throughout her career, including being named one of Gwinnett’s top executives. She became executive director of Annandale Village, a community serving adults with developmental disabilities. She served there for over 15 years, leading the foundation and endowment to unprecedented levels.
During this time, she co-founded the Gwinnett Foundation and held numerous other positions dedicated to providing vital community and social services to Gwinnett County. Her tireless efforts were honored with awards such as Most Admired Community Leader, Best Volunteer, and Gwinnett’s Small Businessperson of the Year. She was also named as one of Georgia’s Who’s Who in 1994. Patricia’s legacy of compassion and service will forever be remembered by those whose lives she touched.
A private funeral service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Patricia’s memory to Annandale Village, 3500 Annandale Lane, Suwanee, Ga. 30024.
Evans Funeral Home, Inc., 1350 Winder Highway, Jefferson, Ga. handled funeral arrangements.
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