In Memoriam: Rebecca Davis-Brown

This first part is a personal remembrance by Chris Jones: “When I walked into my first in-person AWC Conference this September, I noticed the young lady sitting at the check-in table and I will admit my first thought was, “Oh, someone dragged their granddaughter to the conference.” I quickly abandoned that thought as I observed the “granddaughter” was actively greeting and signing in members as they arrived. That night, as the crowd departed the open mic session at another venue, I noticed Rebecca and other young people rapidly folding and stacking chairs to reset the room, and I thought, “Ah, the young folks provide muscle.” Then I actually met Rebecca on the last day of the conference, when she came up and introduced herself and congratulated me on the poem I had read the night before. I thanked her and asked whether she was a student. She said she was pursuing an MFA and that, as a contest judge, she had actually helped select my poem. I later learned that she was a board member. I finally realized: this versatile girl did anything and everything for the AWC. There were other young people present, of course, but seeing Rebecca’s level of energy and active involvement reassured me about AWC’s future.”

In late October of this year, just a few weeks after the AWC conference, AWC board member Rebecca Davis-Brown died as the result of a traffic accident. Her family and friends and colleagues were of course devastated by this loss. Much has been written about Rebecca in the usual places where a life is summarized—obituaries, mainly. Those have their place, but the AWC wanted to also remember her here, in a place that is all about two of her great loves—writing, and writers.

Rebecca was one of those essential people in the arts—those who not only pursue art themselves, but who also seek to inspire others to create and perform. A published, award-winning author herself, she was also the co-creator and editor-in-chief of a literary journal that provided a way for K-12 students to write for publication. You can see the website for that journal here.

An accomplished stage performer, she also taught dance and choreographed many stage musicals.

Rebecca was a member of the AWC board from 2022-2023. Among her accomplishments was stepping into the role of social media manager during the social media chair’s maternity leave.

Rebecca leaves behind many friends at the AWC, who will never forget her and who will forever be inspired by the memory of her absolute dedication to the arts. You can see much more detail about Rebecca’s life on this tribute wall.

Rest in Peace, Rebecca.