Faye Brown
Faye Beatrice Brown, 67, died of COVID-19 on May 6, 2020, while held at the N.C. Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh. Her friend, lawyer Lynn Burke, says she died alone, and that the state's public announcement referred to her only by a label rather than her name. Friends and family describe her as special, with a heart of gold, and say she earned a bachelor's degree and a cosmetology license during her years in prison and later helped other students. Her sister Ola Davis spoke up for her, and the family wrote letters in support of her.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness. Prison officials announced she died of COVID-19, and her friend Lynn Burke writes that she died alone amid inadequate prison conditions and pandemic response.
Reported by: prison officials; Lynn Burke, her friend and lawyer (family or their lawyers).