b. 1932
by the Archives Committee of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Winston-Salem, NC, 2016
Patricia O’Brien Tankard Brown
Shortly before moving to Winston-Salem in 1966, Pat and Hal Brown met with Dudley Calhoun, rector of St. Paul’s in Winston-Salem. After meeting with him and the St. Paul’s staff, they were sure they had found their new church home.
The Browns were invited to a newcomer’s dinner, where they met people destined to become their close and dear friends. Through these connections, Pat immediately started working with the Kitchen Guild. For many years, she worked with outreach groups, serving the elderly and cooking for the ECW bazaar and Lenten lunches.
Next she served as president of the Episcopal Church Women, parish treasurer, and vestry member. Pat represented our diocese at the COCU Conference, while participating in the St. Paul’s Church School activities.
Serving her community, Pat served on the Ronald McDonald Home board from the start, and, with her husband, led the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County United Way Campaign.
She remembers the EFM course as one of the most meaningful experiences of her church journey, and feels that experience greatly enriched her St. Paul’s commitment.
The Browns were married in 1951. Hal served in Korea and then finished graduate school, after which he and Pat moved to Winston-Salem. Their family includes five children—Andy, Bruce, Adele, Edward, and George. When George was killed as a sophomore in college, St. Paul’s truly became an extended family. The parish was invaluable in showing support and love.
St. Paul’s has been, and always will be, an integral part of Pat and Hal Brown’s lives.