Brenda Lee Coleman Brown departed this life on Sunday, October 26, 2008. God in his infinite wisdom, who's too wise to make a mistake, with outreached arms called her home to eternal rest from her labor.
Brenda was born on August 3, 1958 in Queens, New York, to Jeanette Loper Coleman (deceased). A few weeks later she arrived in Carrsville, Virginia as the foster daughter of Mrs. Annie Mae Battle and Mr. Moses Battle. They cared for Brenda for the next ten years. When "Mrs. Annie Mae" died Brenda became the foster daughter of Rev. and Mrs. John Linwood Knight. She was baptized at an early age and joined Pulaski Baptist Church. While living with "Mrs. Bertha" and "Mr. Linwood," Brenda graduated from Windsor High School and matriculated to Virginia State University. She was also a Certified Nursing Assistant through the Stop Program. In 1980, Brenda married James Brown, Jr. (now deceased) gave birth to her first born, Antron Lamont Brown. God blessed this marriage with another child, Nakia Jenell Brown. Nakia is the mother of Brenda's granddaughter, Jaiylyn and Antron is the father of Brenda's grandson, Anvei Lamont.
Brenda also leaves behind a mother-in-law, Mrs. Linell Brown, who has an active role in the lives of her grandchildren and her. great-grandchildren. She also leaves a sister-in-law, Mrs. Valerie Baker. Brenda was recently united with other siblings born to her biological mother, Jeanette Coleman. Three of whom reside in New York: brothers; Zance Wiggins and Nathaniel Coleman; and a sister, Novella Loper. Deceased siblings include Edward Wiggins, Michelle Coleman and Joy Blackman. Brenda's foster brothers and sisters include Frank (Mary), Jefferson (Janice (deceased), Bobby (Audrey), Matthew (deceased) (Ivery), Woodrow (Alice), Leon (Brenda), Sylvia (Harrison), Jessie, Regina (Earl), and Maryland. There are a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends, especially Islanders "Jack" Rawlings.
Visitation be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, October 30, 2008 and the funeral service officiated, by Dr. Robert E. Rodgers, will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Pulaski Baptist Church, 6431 Carrsville Highway, Carrsville. Interment will be in the Knight Family Cemetery. Crocker Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
