Life’s Profile of

Joselyn (Josie) Augustine Brown

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, and so it was with our beloved Joselyn, aka, Josie , on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Joselyn Augustine Brown , one of 8 siblings was born on July 7,1935 , in Colon, Panama to Ivy Augustine and Darrell (David) Augustine (both preceded her in death); Brothers – David (Junie) Augustine Jr., and Simon (Tito) Augustine; and 5 sisters who also preceded her in death;  Emily Clarke, Ruby Clarke, Dolores Phillips, Barbara Smith and Cladette Hawkins. Joselyn (Josie) met her knight in shining honor, Rodolfo Luciano Brown, Sr. in March 1955. To that union two sons were born: Rodolfo L. (Rudy Brown, Jr. (married to Teresa Brown), and Renaldo Brown. Later in life Rudy and Teresa Brown brought to this family tree Josie’s one and only grandson, Brandon Brown.

Joselyn (Josie) grew up in the city of Colon in the Central America country of Panama where she received her education. Panama has a rich tradition of having friendly and hardworking people. In the tradition of her country Josie epitomized that “go get” attitude. Even though opportunities for expanding both educational and work advancement were limited, the desire to do better always existed in her as a child growing up in her beloved country. Always being a child of ambition, Josie learned at an early age to perform chores well and learned to sew her own clothes and other household activities. However, her most noted ability as a child and later as an adult was her ability to cook and bake gourmet meals, including the famous Panamanian fruit cake. This tradition lasted well into her 80’s when she baked for family and friends.

In 1955, after Rodolfo, her husband completed a tour in the United States Army, as he a soldier that fought in the Korean War, he decided to leave the US Army and was granted an honorable discharge. Rodolfo decided at the age of 21 to start a new Life in NY where he had a Great Aunt that resided in the borough of Queens, NY. At that juncture, with only a duffle bag of clothes he subsequently found work and saved enough money to send for wife, Joselyn ( Josie) who then joined him to start a new Life together in the United States.

Being in a new land had challenges as Joselyn’s primary language was Spanish. She had to assimilate and quickly learn English so that she could find work. She worked initially in a factory. Even though it was difficult she thrived and was able to work harder despite challenges and quickly excelled by working harder and faster than others that were at the job for a much longer time. Never to be satisfied, Josie worked at several other jobs, including the City of NY prior to applying for a better position in a large corporate environment. Joselyn (Josie), having completed High School applied for work that required higher aptitude and successfully obtained the position and worked as a secretary in the medical department of New York Life Insurance. Based on her diligence and her hard work she was able to advance in her career to become the Executive Secretary to the Vice President & Medical Director of the Medical department. Joselyn (Josie) worked at New York Life for 20 years and retired early at age 54, which was an accomplishment. The earliest retirement age was 55 but because of Joselyn’s exemplary work and management’s knowledge that her husband, Rodolfo had retired several years prior and moved from NY (Flushing, Queens) to Florida in 1986 to Fort Myers, FL area; they provided her with a compensation package that allowed her to retire 6 months prior to her 55th birthday.

Family to Joselyn (Josie) has and always will mean everything to her. Even though Joselyn (Josie) moved to the United States in 1955 she always remembered her extended family and wanted them to have a similar opportunity to experience a better Life. Joselyn (Josie) and Rodolfo assisted in helping many of their siblings by completing immigration paperwork to allow them to migrate to the United States. As a result, both families, (Brown & Augustine) have benefited immensely and contributed to the American society.

Joselyn (Josie) had many hobbies. She enjoyed cooking, baking, traveling, and dancing especially to Latin music. Traveling was the hobby she most enjoyed with her husband, Rodolfo as they visited the countries of Egypt, Spain, Ireland, Costa Rica, Mexico, and many more.

Joselyn joined Grace and Truth Fellowship International Church, under the leadership of Pastor Ernest R. Howell, Jr., for many years until her health declined and she had to reside in senior facility, Tampa Gardens until her passing. She enjoyed the worshipping, teaching of the Word of God and fellowshipping with the saints of God.

In addition to names mentioned in earlier paragraphs we do not want to fail to acknowledge her love for her special nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, and friends who played significant roles in her life and caregiving.

Her Journey’s Just Begun

Do not think of her as gone away, her journey’s just begun,

Life holds so many facets, this earth is only one,

Just think of her as resting, from the sorrows and the tears,

In a place of warmth and comfort,

Where there are no days or years,

Think how she must be wishing that we could know today,

How nothing but our sadness can really pass away,

And think of her as living, in the hearts of those she touched,

For nothing loved is ever lost, and she was loved so much.