Carolyn “ Yvonne” Scruggs Brown, the second of four children , was born to Welford Johnson Scruggs and Sallie Janette ( nee Butts) Scruggs on May 21, 1938 in Baltimore Maryland.

Yvonne, as she was known to many, graduated from Dunbar High School in Baltimore.  She continued her education at Coppin State College, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Education.  As she would say, she later matriculated at Morgan State University where she received a Master’s of Science in Mathematics.   Yvonne taught in the Baltimore City Public School system for over forty (40) years, touching the lives of many children at Lombard Junior High School, Dunbar Senior High School and Northern High School.   Even in her retirement, students she had taught would stop by her home just to say hello.  She was a member of the graduate chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, where she participated faithfully until she lost her sight.

In 1999, after the death of her baby brother Calvin, Sr., Yvonne became legally blind due to complications from glaucoma.  Visual impairedness led to her retirement from the job she loved so dear.  It was during that time that her niece and name sake Carolyn and her nephew Calvin Jr became her eyes.  Carolyn and Calvin took on total responsibility for her care and livelihood.  (Cleaning the house, making sure she had groceries, cooking for her, taking her to the doctors, paying the bills, whatever was needed.) This gesture of love was only befitting because Yvonne, known to them as Brown, had contributed substantially to both  the lives of her niece and nephew as they were growing up.  Her impact on their lives will last forever. 

Many are not aware that is was Brown who put their dad Calvin Sr, through Echols Mortuary College in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, allowing him to obtain a degree in Mortuary Science. This set the foundation for the now family owned and operated Calvin B. Scruggs Funeral Home.  Though her brother’s death took a toll on her, she found joy in his children and grandbaby.

Brown made it her business to influence the life of Calvin Jr’s daughter Ca’Lynn Brenae Scruggs. She loved Ca’Lynn like she was her own.  As Ca’Lynn began to talk, Brown would often ask her: Who are you? And she taught Ca’Lynn to reply: “the sweetest baby in the world. Brown’s sweetest baby grew up to be her “Poodie”.   Brown would attend dance recitals, and school events and you had to tell her what Poodie was doing.  She helped her in every Math subject (Algebra, Geometry, etc.) often figuring out the answer in her mind before Ca’Lynn could get it done on paper. 

 As Carolyn and Calvin continued to care for Brown, God sent them a few Angels.  Her neighbor Tyrone Benton and his Grandmother Marie Massey would help by taking her to doctors’ appointments, making sure the trash was out or just being there to laugh and talk about good times.  Chantae “Penny” Fields (Ca’Lynn’s mom) kept her looking sassy.  Penny would help Carolyn by getting Brown dressed and even transporting her to family affairs and events.  She cleaned the house and took her to church. 

In 2016, God knew Brown as ailing and the busy schedules of Carolyn and Calvin did not allow them to provide 24/7 care, he returned to her life a cousin she had cared for as a child.  George Wright, the child of her cousin Berta, moved in with Brown to care for her.  He bathed her, fed her and did whatever was needed.  Carolyn always tells George and others how she thanks God daily for sending her an Angel to help care for her aunt.  George was there until the end.

She leaves to cherish her memory her niece Carolyn Janette Scruggs, nephew Calvin Bernard Scruggs, Jr (Chekia), great-niece Ca’Lynn Brenae’ Scruggs, sister-in-law Bernadine V. Scruggs, caretakers Tyrone Benton, Chantae Fields and George Wright, a lifelong friend, Ms. Doretha Carr and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

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