Carmen A. Snape Brown of Plantation, FL has gone home, leaving behind a circle of those who loved her.
Here is a glimpse of the life she lived, in her family's own remembrance.
The ordinary days are often the ones we miss most.
Obituary for Carmen “Precious” A. Snape Brown January 1, 1951 – April 8, 2026Carmen A. Snape Brown—devoted wife and mother, grandmother, faithful servant, skilled nurse, and a woman who rarely sat still for long—passed away on April 8, 2026. Born on January 1, 1951, in St. Mary, Jamaica, to Caston and Mabel Snape, Carmen lived a life defined by service, strength, and more than enough humor to keep everyone on their toes.Raised alongside her siblings—Carol “Cee”, Carlyn “Perry”, Caston, “Junior” and Jascene “Jas”—Carmen’s early years in St. Mary laid the foundation for a life marked by discipline, resilience, and a quiet determination (with just a hint of mischief when the moment called for it). She attended Water Valley Elementary School, Iona Preparatory School in Ocho Rios, St. Mary High School, and later Wolmer’s Girls’ School where she played on the basketball team and graduated in 1968. Even back then, sitting still wasn’t really her thing—Carmen loved to travel and took every opportunity she could to be on the move, especially when a good road trip was involved.In her youth, Carmen met the eternally mischievous Norman Neville Brown—a title he never quite outgrew. Their friendship stretched across the Atlantic while Norman studied in England, proving that their connection was stronger than the miles between them. Carmen emigrated from Jamaica to Brooklyn in 1969, where she continued her education and became a nurse—a role that fit her so naturally. They reunited in New York after his studies, and Carmen decided he was truly someone special. The two were married on July 28, 1979, beginning a partnership filled with love, laughter, and likely a few well-earned eyerolls.The new young family moved to Lauderhill, Florida in 1980 and she found employment with Florida Medical Center as a nurse, until she retired. To her patients, she was more than a nurse—she was part caregiver, part counselor, and, when necessary, part “we’re going to do this whether you like it or not.”Carmen was the proud mother of her two favorite sons. Norman was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1980, and Nigel followed 18 months later in Hollywood, Florida. She loved them fiercely, prayed for them constantly, and made sure they were taken care of—whether they asked for it or not.She always wanted more children, so she decided to experiment with her own “Spectacular Summer Camp” and took on the role of “entertainment director”. In the late 80s and early 90s, while a nurse-by-night she pulled a double as chaperone-by-day, taking care of and entertaining her nieces and nephews. This over-ambitious woman created summers to envy, taking camp attendees on field trips in a fully-loaded SUV. The “Transporter” carried approximately 10 occupants, seeking to be teleported, to happy places in a maroon Nissan Pathfinder with 4 stow-aways wedged in the trunk. Highlights of the summer camp included trips to Six Flags Atlantis water park, Sea World, bowling alleys, Jungle Queen, SWAP Shop and Go-Kart racing at Grand Prix Race-o-rama. When her time as entertainment director ended, she welcomed many friends of Norman and Nigel into their home making them feel as if they were one of her children as well.Her faith was the true center of her life. Carmen was a dedicated member of Bethel Gospel Chapel, Hollywood Bible Chapel, and then Plantation Community Church. She showed up—consistently, faithfully, and often multiple times a week. Her calendar revolved around serving God, including her beloved Camp Horizon. Every Sunday, without fail, she participated in her prayer call that began during COVID with her Wolmer’s alumni group—because even a global pandemic wasn’t going to stop Carmen from making sure people were being prayed for.Retirement, however, did not mean slowing down—it simply meant changing lanes. Carmen combined two of her favorite things: being behind the wheel and helping others. She spent her time driving “her patients” all around South Florida to their medical appointments. If you needed a ride, Precious was the perpetual “getaway” driver. If you didn’t need a ride, she would still check on you just to be sure.She lived by a guiding principle: “Do as much as you can, for as many as you can, as long as you can, because that is all that you can.” And she meant it. Carmen didn’t just say it—she lived it, drove it, scheduled it, and probably reminded you about it if you forgot.Carmen has now been welcomed into Heaven by her beloved parents, Caston and Mabel Snape, along with numerous family members who have gone before her—no doubt greeted with joy, a few jokes, and perhaps a gentle reminder that she can finally sit down and rest (though knowing Carmen, she’s already found something to get into).Her legacy is one of faith, service, laughter, and love. Her impact will continue to live on in the many lives she touched. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and those blessed to know her. She will be fondly remembered and talked about often—especially in stories that start with, “You know Carmen would know so and so…”She is survived by her spouse Norman Brown, sons Norman Jr. and wife LaTaurus and Nigel and wife Nadine, her three granddaughters Kendall, Taylor, Nia, and a host of family members and friends.Rest well, Precious — you’ve earned it and then some.P.S. Although we are not requesting you wear a particular color, we want you to be aware that Carmen's favorite color is YELLOW. We would be delighted if you wear a touch of yellow to honor her memory but its totally your choice,
