Dr. Audre Levy

Dr. Audre Fay Levy, 78, entered into rest on December 24, 2023, at Levine & Dickson Hospice House at Southminster in Charlotte, North Carolina after a short illness. She was born in Manistee, MI on October 24th , 1945 to the late Thomas Abson Cunningham and Bessie Mae Connolly.

Audre Levy was born of two parents who promoted education despite the fact that neither had more than a basic elementary education.  Because of their incentive and vision, she has made both a career of education and a career in education.

Perhaps one of the labels Dr. Levy most proudly wears is that of a life-long learner.  Amazingly, she has five advanced graduate degrees having earned a bachelor’s degree in public speaking from Michigan State University, four masters’ degrees (a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Michigan; a Master of Science in Educational Psychology from California State University, Long Beach; a Master of Science from California State University, Dominguez Hills; and a Master of Divinity from Holmes Institute).  In 1991, she graduated with a Doctoral Degree in Institutional Management from Pepperdine University and in 2004 was selected “Alumni of the Year.”

Her career path has been flavored with her parent’s inspiration and high work ethic.  Dr. Levy has worked in all levels of education (elementary, junior high school, senior high school, adult school, community college, and four-year University).  She has been an instructor (having taught English, reading, and public speaking for over 12 years), a counselor (junior high, senior high, and community college students for seven years), and an administrator for over 15 years.  Her administrative assignments at the community college post-secondary level have included being Directors of several state and federal programs, Vice President of Student Services, Executive Vice President, Provost, and President.  She playfully has labeled herself a bit of a vagabond having been born in Michigan but making many other states her temporary home.  She has held positions of leadership in California (Los Angeles Community College District, San Jose/ Evergreen Community Colleges and Glendale Community College) Texas (Dallas Community Colleges), and Florida (Edison Community College).  She recently retired having served over the past six and half years as president of Lone Star College-CyFair in Cypress, Texas.  Her mantra is “bloom where you are planted!”

However, more important to her than her resume of experience and education is how she approaches life. “I believe anything and everything is possible with the right attitude.  Within each and every experience is a wonderful pearl of great price; one just has to be willing to look for it.  A temporary setback may be the universe’s way of saying you need to turn left not right and that there is something more magnificent in store for you than this.  I also feel that every experience is a learning opportunity and at any time a person can be either the teacher or the student—so one must assume either role with compassion, dignity, and patience.”

In addition to her parents, Dr. Levy was preceded in death by Russell Cunningham (Brother), and Robert Phillip (Brother). She is survived by loving children Sidney Wallace Levy, Jr. (Nichelle), Charlotte, NC, and Shambray Lavern Levy, Tampa, FL; beloved sister Shirley Jean Cunningham Peters (Doug, deceased), Los Angeles, CA; four grandchildren (Russell Moore, Tampa, FL, Natisha Stokes (Justin), Tampa, FL, Sidney Walter Levy, III, East Lansing, MI, Nicholes Maxwell James Levy, Charlotte, NC); and one great-grandchild Derrick Moore, Tampa, FL; and beloved Aunt Helen Morgan (Age 99). Also left to mourn her passing are a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Acknowledgements

Our family wishes to thank each of you for your kind expressions of sympathy. Thank you for your prayers and whatever you did to show you cared. We realize how truly blessed we are to have such wonderful friends and family during times like this.

We are grateful to Alexander Funeral Home, Inc. for the outstanding services they have provided.
Finally, the family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at Levine & Dickson Hospice House at Southminster, Bayada Home Health Care, Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte, Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, especially those in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates – in particular Anthony L. Asher, MD, FAANS, FACS, and his care team, including the amazing Daris Sullivan, FNP- BC, and primary care physician Dr. Wiley Davis, for the care they provided to Audre throughout her illness.

May God bless and keep each one of you in His tender loving care.

The Family