Keri Brown Still Passes Away

Deb McLean just called to let me know that Keri Brown Still passed away yesterday after a courageous battle with ALS. She was just 29 years old and leaves behind a loving husband and young daughter, not to mention many other family members and friends who loved her dearly.

For those of us who had the opportunity to know her and work with her through her time at Allegacy FCU and as a key member of the NC Marketing Council, this is a painful loss.

Her family and friends set up a website months ago to relay information and coordinate fundraising efforts. Memorial service information will be relayed on the site, called Help Keri, once plans are finalized. If I hear the details before the Help Keri website is updated, this post will be edited to include that information.

(Edit to add that the Memorial Service is scheduled for 11:00 am Thursday morning January 17th at First Presbyterian Church located at 300 N. Cherry Street in downtown Winston-Salem [map], with a reception to follow.)

The web site also includes a guest book in case you would like to share your thoughts and condolences with the family. All of us here at the League send heartfelt sympathies to Keri’s family and friends, including the people whose lives she touched at Allegacy and on the Marketing Council.

(Edit 1/15/08: The Winston-Salem Journal did a follow-up story on Keri, which is available here. The obituary is also available by clicking here.

Allegacy FCU has set up a trust account to benefit Keri’s daughter Kellyn. Please contact the credit union if you would like to make a donation.

We extend our sincerest sympathies to Keri’s family, and appreciate Joanie tipping us off about the Journal story in the comments section. This post is closed to further comments - please share any condolences for Keri’s family on the Help Keri website. Thank you!) 

This One’s for You, Keri

The banner ad didn’t grab my eye at first as I scanned the Winston-Salem Journal online last week. And then, a flicker of delayed recognition caused me to scroll back up the page. The smiling face was indeed familiar, and the words “Help Keri” naturally caused me to click and investigate more.

We all knew her as Keri Brown when she worked at Allegacy Federal Credit Union in the marketing department. Keri served on the League Marketing Council’s executive committee when I was just getting started at the League in 2004.

She later left the credit union and our paths had not crossed lately.

Always quick with a laugh, cheerful, energetic and fun … Keri was a hard-worker and a key to the success of the council. She had a wicked sense of humor and a million dollar smile.

The web site the banner ad transported me to was a shock.

Keri’s married now.

Keri’s 29 years old.

Keri’s got a newborn daughter.

Keri’s got Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Keri’s family & friends have rallied around her, and the web site is both a means of sharing information and allowing people to send their thoughts to Keri and her family. You will find the guest book of this web site at http://www.helpkeri.com/guestbook.html.

Also, Winston-Salem Journal Reporter Janice Gaston penned a powerful front-page article about Keri’s life and her battle with ALS. Read it here.

Credit union people throughout the State, some of whom have never met her, have been gracious in offering their support, love and prayers to Keri via the web site. I invite you to do the same.

And think of Keri the next time you pick up a child, feel the sun hit your face, stroll along the beach, or do any of the million things each day that we take for granted.