Tara Michelle Brown resided in Greensboro, NC and was born 7.25.1977 in Burlington, NC.   She left this world on 8.7.2021 at 44 years of age.   She succumbed to severe clinical depression which she had battled courageously and been treated for many years.  We know the loving hands of God holds her tight providing peace and comfort to her soul.  

She is survived by her loving and supportive family, including her father and step-mom Michael and Vicki Brown, brother Troy Brown (Kaitlin).  There might have been a hint of a “Daddy’s Girl” relationship with her father.  Also surviving Tara are her mother and step-father Linda and Brian Hurdle Sr., brother Robbie Hurdle (Becca), and step-brother Brian Hurdle Jr. (Gina).  Tara is also survived by her grandmother Barbara Montgomery Pattishall.  Tara was predeceased by grandparents Billie and Frances Phillips, Ernest, Maxine and Inez Brown, as well as Pat Pattishall and her aunt Donna Montgomery Weatherspoon.

Tara was never more happy than when surrounded by her extended family especially when it included nieces, cousins and their children. She would want to send her eternal love to all:  nieces Emilia and Kennedy Brown, Ann Elizabeth and Catie Hurdle, Alexis Hurdle as well as nephew Austin Hurdle.Her cousins that happened to be in close geographical proximity were like brothers and sisters to Tara and were loved deeply.  Brian Dixon, Candice Dixon Patrick, Leslie Ferrell Moyer, Chad Ferrell, and Heather Ferrell were a tight-knit group but are now missing a cog in the wheel.  The annual beach trips remained a most cherished memory.  She also was proud of cousins Jean Claude Shore and especially Michelle Shore who understood her challenges better than most.   Aunts and uncles were her rock, Donna Shore and Janice Phillips Bray, as well as, Terry and Rodney Dixon, Wendy Ferrell, Pat Weatherspoon and from afar Kirby (Sandy) Lashley and Gurney (Elena) Lashley and their families.  Likewise she loved the annual family reunion of the Thompson/Cates clan. 

Tara had an extraordinary academic career at Walter Williams HS leading to academic scholarships to attend UNC Chapel Hill.  From three separate Honor Society inductions, to a National Merit Scholar, to being Editor In Chief of the Yearbook (Through the Looking Glass), to being a cheerleader, to founding the Philosophy Club and being involved in Amnesty International and the Environmental Club, or being an award winner at the state level mock trial competition and much more, Tara found a way to excel.  By the way, athletically she was a master on the downhill ski slopes …don’t get in her way…eight years of lessons paid off.  As a Dean’s List student at Chapel Hill and later at UNC-G she pursued her love of Literature and Creative Writing.  Unfortunately, the onset of mental health problems interrupted her formal academic pursuits, but never interrupted her love of writing and reading.  She so preferred a handwritten note to an email or a text.   She loved quotes that clicked with her and often would forward them to those she thought would find them meaningful. 

Although Tara didn’t have children of her own, she was drawn to them and they to her…a Pied Piper of the little people.  There was nothing more soothing to her soul than to get in the floor and fully involve herself giving a child or children her total attention.  Tara had a stint as a yoga teacher for children and also offered her yoga skills teaching female cancer patients ways to help their bodies recover.  As her own medical issues created challenges for her in the work place, she developed her own little business which involved setting up at craft shows and arts festivals and offering Face-Painting to young and old.  To see a child light up in a huge smile when she turned them to the mirror to see her creation, sparked joy to not only the kid, but probably even more so to Tara.    While creating happiness for children at these arts and crafts shows, Tara also learned about jewelry making.  She specialized in silver wraps and made many custom pieces …these pieces were delicate and extremely time consuming and she probably never made a nickel on them if she were to have calculated her time spent.  However, that didn’t deter her …the work was soothing and allowed her creativity to come out. 

Tara had a special gift for raising flowers …and just enjoying them in general.   In limited space she grew a variety of beautiful plants and nurtured them like babies.  There were many days when she was walking the neighborhood she would stop and snap pictures of others’ flowers….not so sure she wouldn’t snip one from their yard from time to time as well.  But all the while she would give anyone cuttings from her beds.   In the last couple of years with the help of her neighborhood buddy Michael Thompson she ventured into raising a few vegetables too.  This year she was really proud of her tomatoes but her real pride and joy was a fruitful blackberry bush planted a couple of years back that yielded beautiful berries. 

Tara was a feminist and true champion of the underdog or downtrodden, she hated injustice, discrimination, or prejudice in any form.  She was too liberal for some folks tastes, but it came from her heart and she was well equipped to argue her points.  Never did she meet a stranger and she was as willing to strike up a conversation or a debate with a homeless person as she was a bank president.  One human was no better than another in her book.  Her passion and sensitivity to the plight of others often came at her own expense.  That was Tara all the way, the right cause was better than the wrong consequence. 

  Her funeral services open to all will be held Tuesday morning at 10:45 am in the Church of the Covenant Presbyterian at 501 S Mendenhall St.  Greensboro, NC.  Tara found this to be the most open and welcoming church community and loved volunteering there.  (The Church has a strict mask mandate and encourages social distancing – Tara’s family will supply masks to anyone who may have forgotten them)  

Burial will follow immediately at Alamance Memorial Park which is about a 15 minute drive from the Church to 4039 S. Church St Burlington, NC

Although Tara loved gardening and flowers, she would love to see contributions made in her memory to:

The Church of the Covenant Presbyterian at 501 S Mendenhall St.  Greensboro NC 27403.

Tara wanted to reduce the stigma she often found associated with mental illness that plagued her for so many years and contributions as noted below would further that cause:  

Mental Health Greensboro 700 Walter Reed Dr.  Greensboro, NC 27403, or to the organization of your choice that provides mental health care to those that cannot afford it.