Vanessa Carol Brown

Vanessa Carol “Cheese” Brown born on February 10, 1957 went to glory on July 3, 2023 at 12:12 p.m. surrounded by her loving family.
She was a graduate of William Henry Harrison High School in 1975 and attended Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana. Vanessa was a Kappa Alpha Psi “Kappa Kitten”, her line name was Quiet Storm. Vanessa’s career began at Peabody Coal Company where she worked in the Administrations Department. She later moved to Hopkins, Minnesota where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work at Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Vanessa worked for Perspectives, Inc. in St. Paul, Minnesota as a social worker. She was dedicated to the community and helping low-income families. She was recognized by Hillary Clinton for her outstanding work serving children of low-income families.
Vanessa moved back to her hometown of Evansville, Indiana in 2008. Once home, Vanessa began working for Catholic Charities as a Community Involvement Coordinator. She dedicated her time to helping with charity events and educating children. Vanessa also worked for the CK Newsome Center and Carver initiation through AARP. Her community involvement work led her to serve on the Evansville Housing Authority Board and the Community Action Program of Evansville (CAPE), where she directly improved the lives of families in need. Vanessa loved to help others; she dedicated a lot of her time in volunteering in the community. She was a devoted volunteer at Memorial Baptist Church, where she cooked meals, organized church events and served faithfully as the receptionist. She volunteered at Lincoln Elementary school assisting with the food pantry for families in need.
Aside from having a dedicated career of service, Vanessa took pride in being a loving mother to her two daughters, raising them to be beautiful and bold. She was a devoted grandmother “Boo Boo” and loved to go on adventures with her granddaughter, Ella; whether it was feeding ducks at the park or mid-day runs to Krispy Kreme. She cherished the time she got to spend with her “Little Boo Boo”.
Vanessa is preceded in death by her grandmother: Emma Norman and Willy Suggs; mother: Mrs. Myrtle (Suggs) Bowling; father: Mr. Charles Bowling II; and little brother: Mr. Charles Bowling III.
She leaves to cherish her fondest memories daughters: Sharda (Whitticker) Grew and husband. Daniel Grew, Bianca Brown-Powell and wife, Nicole Brown-Powell; granddaughter: Ella Brown-Powell, sisters: Brenda (Richardson) Jackson and husband, John H Jackson, Patricia Fisher, Victoria Bowling, Valencia Redding; brothers: Byron Bowling and Christopher Bowling. Vanessa was loved by her best friend: B. Denise Johnson; nieces: Angel Bowling, Chaldrea Redding, Erica Thurmon, and nephews: Joshua Fisher, Darryl Bowling, Denero Bowling, Daylon Redding, Sergius Redding, Michael Bowling, Marquis Bowling, and B.J. Bowling. Her life was filled with cousins she loved and friends that became family.
Wake Services will be held at Mason Brothers Memorial Chapel on Friday, July 14th, 2023 from 6pm-8pm. Funeral Services will be held at Memorial Baptist Church on Saturday July 15th, 2023 at 10am. Viewing at 9am. Celebration of life to follow at CK Newsome Center at 5pm.
Vanessa was a beautiful person inside and out. Her smile was so stunning it would light up the whole room. She cared so deeply for the people around her. She made an impact on many lives. She will be forever missed. Until we meet again.