Audrey Faye Warner

In lieu of flowers or gifts, we are asking for donations in Audrey's name to support mentorship and scholarship opportunities for young women entrepreneurs (see "In memorium donations" in the "about" section below.).

Critical thinker. Fixer. Guide. Leader. A safe place. A rock. "The strongest woman I've ever known."  The lady and friend; the wife and mother; the legendary, Granny. 

Audrey “Granny” Warner died on January 21, 2021. She was born on July 23, 1948. The significance of the dates of her birth and death pale in comparison, however, to the extraordinary way she went about her life in the time between them.  Soon after graduating high school and turning 18, she married her love, Terry, and began a partnership in learning, life and work that would span nearly two decades. When she was widowed at the age of 36, Audrey demonstrated the resilience and strength she became known for by grieving, continuing to raise her three children and transitioning into life as a student. In 1990, only 3 short years after commencing coursework, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Houston-Victoria, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a 4.0 grade average. Soon after, she married John, beginning the second of her successful partnerships in learning, life and work. That same year, she also began an exemplary tenure as a grandmother that would endure until her untimely departure from our realm more than 30 years later. Out of all of her life achievements, she would no doubt rank her earned title of “the best Granny ever” (direct quote from current grandchild) as her greatest triumph. She managed to do all of this while also managing to achieve greatness in her career as an Accounting Manager, Financial Consultant, Chief Financial Officer and Entrepreneur. (Oh, and, side note: she also survived two different types of cancer. Mic drop.) See what we mean by ‘legendary’?

The term "survive" does not do justice to what we, as a collective group of humans who were nurtured, mentored and loved by Audrey are doing now that she is no longer walking here with us. Our stories, when shared, paint a picture of a woman whose capacity to love, listen and lead others through the most challenging waters was seemingly infinite. As we reflect on her impact and the ways in which our lives were shaped by it, we are not satisfied to continue only as survivors and she would not have it so. We continue on, yes, but forever changed, stronger, fortified by her; our friend; our mother; our Granny.