Support Emma on her 88th for trip to Broadway!

Hi, my name is Stephanie Taylor, and I am the daughter of Emma Gene Brown. My mother will be turning 88 today, June 30, 2025! She is in remarkable shape, although she would probably argue otherwise. Recently, we lost a beloved family member, her son-in-law, unexpectedly. My mother was gracious enough to cover the funeral expenses when his three brothers did not contribute. It was heartbreaking, but my mother did what she always does: she helped even when she may not have been able to herself during such a difficult time.

On another note, I have a dear friend, Jamie Wax, who recently opened a play on Broadway in New York City. I was involved in theater when I was younger, and my mom was always one of my biggest supporters, following the arts just as I did. She recently expressed a desire to see the play, and neither of us had been to New York. I realized what a wonderful birthday gift this would be for my mom to go with her and share this moment with her for such a fantastic person who has endured so much in her life!

I wanted to create a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of my mom's travel to New York to see the play "Call Me Izzy," starring Jean Smart and written by Jamie Wax. If I could afford it myself, I would, but we do not have much to spare after all we’ve been through together recently. I didn’t want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate her turning 88 with a play written by someone we love. I know many friends and family who know and love her too, and I was hoping to get some help, even if it's just a small amount.

To share a little more about my mom, Emma Gene Brown: she is a cancer survivor! She was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, stage 4, in 2012 and underwent aggressive treatment until 2017. When the cancer returned, she participated in trial therapy and was declared in remission in 2020. It is truly remarkable. She embraces life as best she can, enjoys gardening, and her yard could be compared to Martha Stewart's. She has served as the secretary of the Red River Bowmen Archery Club in Shreveport for over 67 years, continuing to make full contributions to this day.

She has been married to Bill Brown for 68 years and still lives together in their home in Haughton, Louisiana. She provides daily support for him after he lost his leg to MRSA and has been in a wheelchair since 2008. Her perseverance and drive to make the most of each day truly inspire me and anyone she meets.

Thank you for reading and supporting my mom, Emma Gene Brown, in potentially providing the trip of a lifetime for her 88th birthday!! It is genuinely appreciated.