Denise Francine ‘Fran’ Boyd Andrews, a drug counselor whose battle with addiction inspired a book and HBO miniseries, dies

Denise Francine “Fran” Boyd Andrews worked on street outreach, HIV education and outreach, overdose counseling and case management at Bon Secours Health System. (Amy Davis / XX)

Denise Francine “Fran” Boyd Andrews worked on street outreach, HIV education and outreach, overdose counseling and case management at Bon Secours Health System. (Amy Davis / XX)

Denise Francine “Fran” Boyd Andrews, whose desperate, determined, despairing — and ultimately triumphant — battle with drug addiction was chronicled in the Emmy Award-winning HBO miniseries “The Corner” died Tuesday in her Parkville home after a brief illness. She was 65.

The cause of her death is unknown.

Mrs. Andrews’ life took her from the shooting galleries and flophouses of Baltimore’s Franklin Square neighborhood to a bed in a rehabilitation facility and ultimately, the Hollywood red carpet.

Her first husband died from a drug overdose. Her 2007 wedding to her second husband, Donnie Andrews, who inspired the character of Omar Little on the HBO series, “The Wire,” was chronicled on the front page of the New York Times. The couple later spoke at Harvard University.

“Don’t let nobody tell you what you can’t do,” Mrs. Andrews said often. “You can turn your life around.”

Even after she’d accomplished so much and helped lift up many members of her family, Mrs. Andrews’ life continued to be marred by tragedy. In 2012, she lost her eldest son to a drug overdose and her second husband to a fatal tear in his artery.

But Mrs. Andrews never stopped fighting. She worried over and cared for and tried to find resources for the clients she counseled at the Bon Secours Health System, whether she was on the clock or not. She refused to lose.

Despite his grief, Stanley Boyd couldn’t help laughing when he talked about the woman he called “my big little sister.” Though Stanley Boyd was four years older than Fran, he said he looked up to her.

“She could do anything,” her brother said. “Despite all the trials she had in her life, she affected so many people.”

The Baltimore Sun

Skip The Scoop | Seek Understanding

American Medical Association CEO calls laws banning kids trans surgeries ‘dangerous governmental intrusion’

Show Me

Uganda Detects Covid-19 Variant From India, Urges Caution

Show Me

Dr. John Eastman to Hold Press Conference Thursday at Noon MDT – After Being Fired for Speaking at a Trump Rally

Show Me

Massachusetts Man Took Over ‘OG’ Social Media Accounts to Steal Cryptocurrency: Justice Department

Show Me

Trump defends ‘great patriot’ Rudy Giuliani after ‘unfair’ FBI raid

Show Me

No, Other People’s Covid Vaccines Can’t Disrupt Your Menstrual Cycle

Show Me

High School Runner About To Set Record Collapses At Finish, Blames Outdoor Mask Mandate

Show Me

Joy Behar Claims Tim Scott ‘Doesn’t Understand’ The Difference Between A Racist Country And Systemic Racism

Show Me

Kamala Harris: America Isn’t a Racist Country — But We Have to ‘Speak Truth’ About History of Racism

Show Me

‘The 1619 Project’ and the Red Meat Project

Show Me

Caught on camera: Liz Cheney fist-bumps Biden before his speech

Show Me

Hawley Introduces Bill to Reduce Pentagon’s Reliance on Technology from China and Other ‘Adversary Nations’

Show Me

Water: The Forgotten Nutrient

Show Me

April 29, 2021 | Nightly News Rebroadcast | Video: 52 Minutes 29 Seconds

Show Me

German spies monitor anti-lockdown activists for suspected sedition

Show Me

Purchase Orders Show FDA Bought “Fresh” Livers of Viable Babies Killed in Abortions

Show Me

NC Sheriff: 2 deputies killed, suspect and 2 others dead

Show Me

Trump Floats 2024 Presidential Run Again, Says DeSantis Could Be Potential Running Mate

Show Me

Ashli Babbitt’s family plans to sue Capitol Police, officer who shot her

Show Me

Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 1 | Recorded April 29, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 19 Seconds

Show Me

Giuliani’s Lawyer Accuses DOJ of ‘Corrupt Double Standard’ In Executing Warrants Against Him

Show Me

US Catholic bishops may press Biden to stop taking Communion

Show Me

WATCH: Christian Pastor Arrested in London for Quoting ‘Homophobic’ Bible Verses

Show Me

Minneapolis parking app hacked, personal information stolen

Show Me

Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 2 | Recorded April 29, 2021 | Video: 47 Minutes 58 Seconds

Show Me

Bannon’s War Room | Evening Edition | Recorded April 29, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 59 Seconds

Show Me

Scott Outshines Biden, Enrages Libs With Inspiring Tale of Overcoming Adversity

Show Me

CCP Arrests Netizen for Posting Vaccine Death

Show Me

Facebook Blocks #ResignModi Posts for Hours as India Crisis Grows

Show Me

Border Patrol Chief Tells Biden: ‘I Cannot’ Comply With Demand To Use Non-Legal Immigration Terms

Show Me

U.S. Tells Citizens to Leave India as Covid-19 Swamps Hospitals

Show Me

Pompeo knocks Biden: He ‘successfully outlined a radical, socialist agenda’

Show Me

Biden Takes Credit for Ending Afghan War – After Extending It – in Speech to Congress

Show Me

Judge Denies Request to Stop Arizona Audit | Recorded April 28, 2021 | Video: 12 Minutes 44 Seconds

Show Me

Pompeo: Trump Changed How We Look at China | Americans’ Distrust in Media at Record High

Show Me

April 28, 2021 | Nightly News Rebroadcast | Video: 52 Minutes 29 Seconds

Show Me

Connecticut Lawmakers Vote to Repeal Religious Exemptions to Vaccines, Health Freedom Advocates Vow Legal Challenge

Show Me

Texas Counties Declare Disaster Over Border Crisis

Show Me

Ex-Trump aide sues Biden administration, alleging discrimination against white farmers

Show Me

Astronaut Michael Collins, Apollo 11 pilot, dead of cancer

Show Me