Carmen Alleyne-7-14-2025

Carmen B. Alleyne, 85, passed away peacefully at home on June 30, 2025, in Suffolk, Virginia, surrounded by family.

Born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on March 20, 1940, Carmen was the oldest child of Charles Herbert Alleyne and Lillian Barbara Alleyne (née Butler). She graduated from Red Bank High School and earned her degree as a Registered Nurse from the NYU/Bellevue School of Nursing in New York City.

In 1967, Carmen and her first husband, Thomas H. Brown, moved to Neptune, NJ, where they raised their children, Lisa and Joseph, and became one of the first Black families to integrate the town’s Gables neighborhood. It was a reflection of Carmen’s commitment to progressive social and political causes—values she carried throughout her life and instilled in her children and those around her.

Carmen’s career in healthcare spanned decades and states, always rooted in her dedication to healing and helping others. She began her career as a pediatric nurse at Riverview Hospital in Red Bank. In the 1970s, she discovered her calling working with individuals recovering from substance dependency. She managed a methadone clinic in Asbury Park, NJ, treating clients and their children as if they were her own family. She later held various roles at psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities in Florida and beyond, offering care, structure, and encouragement to those seeking a new path forward and advocating fiercely on their behalf.

Carmen’s passion for supporting those in recovery was also reflected through her faith. For many years, she helped lead the Deliverance Ministry at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Boynton Beach, FL, and facilitated weekly group meetings for individuals seeking a fresh start. She was also a member of United Fellowship Baptist Church in Asbury Park.

Carmen was a proud Life Member of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. and served as President and Youth Club Leader of the Central Jersey Club. Through her leadership, she championed education, economic empowerment, and civic engagement for women and girls. Carmen’s signature program was The Fresh Air Fund, whereby youth from New York City were hosted by families in Monmouth County for a summer of fun and life-changing experiences.

She was a social butterfly with a gift for bringing people together. Her senior photo in the Red Bank High School yearbook was captioned with the nickname “Party Doll”—a fitting title for someone who would go on to help create Noise, a lively social club of friends and family that flourished in the 1970s and 1980s. Together, this tight-knit group organized bowling leagues, talent shows, cookouts, and other gatherings that kept loved ones connected. No matter where life took her—from New Jersey to Florida to Virginia—Carmen made new friends wherever she went and left a lasting impression on everyone she met.

Carmen was known for her intelligence, sharp wit, generous heart, and strong will. Her superpower was that she was never judgmental of others. She adored game shows—especially Jeopardy! and Family Feud—and never passed up a good round of Pokeno with friends and family. She also loved professional football, and was a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan dating back to the days of Head Coach Tom Landry. NFL Sundays were sacred in her household. She proudly ran an annual football pool and could often be found surrounded by score sheets, tracking picks and scores, and offering colorful commentary on the results.

A proud repeat Mustang convertible owner, Carmen was known to have a bit of a lead foot and always found joy behind the wheel. She also loved to travel, especially throughout the Caribbean, and took pride in having visited Barbados, her father's ancestral home. For the last few decades of her life, her beloved Bichon Frise dogs—first Dallas and later Luke—were her constant companions. She took great offense at being told there was any place they couldn’t go, and her bond with them was unshakable.

Her home was always a place of warmth and welcome, and she often opened her doors to care for children and adults in need of support, love, or simply a safe place to land. She spent her final years at the home of her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, where she also received devoted and compassionate care from Ms. Kim Boone of Carrollton, VA.

Carmen was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Isaac Robinson III; her first husband and the father of her children, Thomas Brown; her parents, Charles and Lillian Alleyne; her maternal grandmother, Beatrice “Bowie” Brooks; and her sisters, Beatrice O’Neill and Gail Anderson.

She is survived by her daughter, Lisa Jackson (Michael) of Suffolk, VA; her son, Joseph Brown (Serena) of Rahway, NJ; and her treasured granddaughter, Kendall Jackson. She also leaves behind her sisters, Marva Dizard of Asbury Park, NJ and Ramona Young of Boynton Beach, FL; her brothers, Charles Alleyne (Jacqueline) of Los Angeles, CA and Michael Alleyne (Gail) of Neptune, NJ; her cousin, William Steele (Nancy) of Greenwood, IN; and her godchildren, Fatima Smith of Neptune, NJ and Robert Hills Jr. She is also lovingly remembered by many nieces, nephews, and friends. Her legacy of care, courage, connection, and nurturing lives on in the countless lives she touched.

The service will be livestreamed on the church’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/unitedfellowshipchurchasbury).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Carmen’s memory to The Fresh Air Fund (https://freshair.org), honoring her lifelong commitment to creating opportunity and inspiration for children.