01/31/2026
Audrey's Angel; A beautiful Fentanyl victim remembered; her face raised high in the skies of Knox County.
This is the tragic, triumphant story of a mother's journey enduring the hell of her child's addiction, the celebration of her life, and the inner fire that sparked inside of her, causing a refusal for her daughter to be forgotten; while simultaneously igniting a fierce battle cry to bring awareness to the dangers of Fentanyl.
For Brenda Williams, devoted mother and Crossville, TN native, life has been anything but normal and easy. Seeing her in today's light, you perceive a woman of ambition, integrity, a fierce fighter and an advocate for recovery. These characteristics however, were birthed in the death of her daughter, Audrey on Tuesday, November 7th, 2023. A date that should've been spent preparing for the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, would forever be changed admist the ongoing Fentanyl crisis in America. We had an opportunity recently to interview Brenda.
We asked her first, what do you want others to know about her? "Audrey Lynn was 33, she was a lover of animals, nature and photography! Audrey always talked about being a phelbotomist! She was such a good person."
Like many her age in Cumberland County, Audrey had struggled with addiction but she and her devoted brother, Mark, were now, both living, breathing examples that recovery was possible. The siblings were close, they were a team, a bond that struggled together but got clean together and it was beautiful.
Brenda continued, "She was clean for 107 days. She lived with me about her last month and a half. I know I said it but, Audrey was so good. She got a job at Taco Bell, she loved it and was so proud of herself. She talked about helping others who were wanting to get clean." A task, that must've seemed so unattainable at one time for the beautiful 33 year old.
During this part of our story, Brenda's demeanor changes. The smiling woman becomes serious, tired, heartbroken as she recounts events from the past. That undeniable urge to fight is temporarily overshadowed by a mother who carries guilt, sadness and unimaginable turmoil at the reversal of time normalcy when the parent is preparing to say goodbye to the very heartbeat of their existence...their child. Through this aching pit, Brenda continues...
"Audrey died on a Tuesday, November 7, 2023. The day before she went and got car insurance, that's all she needed to get her driver's license back. We went to the DMV and they told her to come back on Tuesday and she would get her license back. She was so excited and so proud and I was proud of her. Life was peaceful!
She worked the closing shift at the Taco Bell. I took her to work that Monday evening and picked her up just a little after 2 am. We went home, we ate together, we talked intently, and we went to bed. The next morning, Tuesday, I got up and went to work 8:00 am and Audrey was good. I got off work and ran an errand and went home. I knew Audrey was excited and waiting to go get her driver's license. I opened the door and there lay my daughter, Audrey Lynn dead in my living room floor. I knew she was gone."
At awareness events, Brenda describes holding Audrey and crying. Pleading to God to give her baby back. The time for help to arrive felt like an eternity and each second of the clock, Brenda gazed into the beautiful face of her Audrey Lynn, holding her, caressing her skin, knowing this would be their last encounter.
Our last question for Brenda was what advice would she want other families to know? She never hesitated...
"If you are struggling with addiction, there is help! You must be ready to get help! Personally if one enables the addict, PLEASE STOP ENABLING, please! My motto with Mark and Audrey was love the addict, but I hated the addiction! I love my children, but hated that addiction! If that makes sense. I truly believe until the addict gives it to God, they will never truly recover! They must also seek help as to why! The root cause of their mental pain that led them to addiction! The addict and/or the families need to know it's alright to get help! Please don't allow the judgment of others stop you! I hope this makes sense, I love you all. Thank you for caring!"
In just two years since Audrey's death, Brenda has used her pain for purpose devoting her time to bringing awareness to the dangers of Fentanyl and the increased risk of overdose when mental health is not addressed. Brenda along with her son Mark, who is recovered, has a successful job and basks in his family time, support the Dirt Track Racers for Recovery Ministry and Mark, "Audrey's boy", proudly displays our decal across the U.S. on his big rig. Each August, you will find Audrey's photo at a local dirt track as part of our Overdose Awareness Campaign. Drivers run in her memory. Brenda advocates for parental loss due to addiction and has fought for the most recent astonishing achievement for parents across East Tennessee in which Audrey's beautiful picture, along with 12 others, will be unveiled and memorialized on a breathtaking billboard in Knoxville, TN that can be seen from I-40 by thousands daily. This billboard is part of the Dustin's Hope movement and our Audrey is the 4th photo to the right on the top row. February 14th at 11a.m., this billboard will be unveiled!
Miss Brenda, we see you fighting for change and we love you and your story. We're not ashamed of Audrey but instead, we uplift and remember her knowing that none of us are beyond this tradgedy.
In the Bible, the Lord says He will give angels charge of us, to protect us. By fighting for her name, her memory, for her to not be forgotten or written off as another statistic, you are the embodiment of an earthly Angel. Instead of cowering or even taking your precious presence from us, you have became brave and have used this as a reason for living. A forever protector, not just of Audrey's legacy but a protector of daughters and sons, that still have time to avoid being the next victim of accidental overdose. Without people like you Brenda, change will never happen.
In Loving Memory of Audrey Lynn Williams
FEBRUARY 12, 1990-NOVEMBER 7, 2023
We encourage you to check out Dustin's Hope & RachelsAngels.org as well as join the movement on Valentine's Day on Broadway!
Audrey, look at you, changing-saving others!
