Brenda L. Cook

Brenda Louise Cook, the matriarch of this family was called home on Sunday, January 28, 2024, at the age of 74. Brenda was a native Washingtonian (Washington, DC) born on March 3, 1949 to the late Barbara Louise Lawrence and James Howard Richmond. Brenda was affectionately known as Bren and Branny. Bren and her sisters, Deborah Marie Webster and Lorna Annie Rice-Lucas (who preceded her in death,) were adopted by the late Master Sergeant Donald McPherson Rice. Bren attended Gage Elementary School, Garnett Patterson Junior High School, and graduated from Cardozo Senior High School. Bren became a Christian at an early age and was a member of Mount Bethel Baptist Church in Northwest, Washington, DC.

In Junior High School, Bren met her sweetheart, Edward Cook. They married June 19, 1965, and from this union produced six children. During their union they converted from Christianity to the Muslim faith and remained together for many years. Although they divorced, they both continued their quest to co-parent and positively influence their children’s lives. Bren later met Robert (Bobby) Green and together produced one child. Bren converted back to the Christian faith where she and Bobby attended Union Temple Baptist Church in Washington, DC. Bren loved to dance! She and Bobby were well known in the hand-dancing community. They won various competitions at the Chateau, IBEX, and many other establishments.

While together, Bren and Bobby took on the responsibility of instilling the importance of family by opening up their home to nieces, nephews, cousins, sisters, and brothers under one roof. Bren was a loving, caring, compassionate, giving, stay at home mom for many years while raising all the children. When she found a quiet moment, she poured out her heart in spectacular poem writings. If you ever had a chance to peek into her secret writing closest you would be amazed, inspired, and encouraged by the endurance of this Queen for never giving up, or in, based on her situation. In 1978 she became a part-time employee at the American Red Cross Bio-Medical Laboratory as a receptionist and was quickly promoted to a full-time Executive Assistant position. She was recognized repeatedly throughout her career and received several awards for her excellent work in building out the Bio-Medical Laboratory during her 18-year tenure. She received a Certificate of Appreciation from DCAA for Community Involvement March 4, 1988. Bren retired from the Red Cross in 1998 and became self-employed, establishing her own business, “Branny’s Daycare.” Bren became Branny to everyone she met and opened her doors to young women with children to assist them in any way that she could. Branny successfully ran her Daycare for 15 years until she decided to retire.

It was clear to anyone who met her, that Brenda was proud to be a mother and often became a mother figure to her children’s friends, extended family, and community at large. Branny devoted herself to giving to others and keeping her family together. She would often say “You’ll have to stick together” and “Love your brother and sister no matter what.” She was an angel right here on earth and many loved her dearly. Branny's accolades from those she touched run deep and will go on forever, making her so unique and irreplaceable.

Preceding Brenda in death are her daughter Sameka Cook, sons Edward III and Baizeat Cook; grandson, Andrew Marshall-Cook, and step-mother Inez Glenn-Rice.

Brenda leaves to cherish her memories, four children: Bryan Cook, Ella Marshall-Cook (Andy), Fontaine Green (Kathy) and Sameka McNeil (Michael); grandchildren: Xavier (Savier) Franco, Ramon (Rascal) and Daija (My Girlie) Edwards, Tiffany (Tiff) Cook, Fontaine (Rico) and Alana (Lany) Green, Ronald (Tre) and Jasmine (Jazzy) Prather, Mycal, Brandon, Cameron, and Aubrey McNeil; sister: Monica (Boo) Cole (Alan); step-sisters: Roslyn Baugh (Charles), Cynthia Jones (Oscar), Aurelia Glenn, Precilla Glenn-Graves (Melvin), Boneita Daniel (Marvin), and Janna Ashton (Noel); sister-in-law: Sadye Green, life-long friends: Diane Banks and Anne Moore, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

A visitation for Brenda will be held Friday, February 9, 2024 at 12:30 PM at Fort Lincoln Funeral Home & Cemetery, 3401 Bladensburg Rd, Brentwood, Maryland 20722. A celebration of life will occur Friday, February 9, 2024 at 1:30 PM, 3401 Bladensburg Rd, Brentwood, Maryland 20722. A burial will occur Friday, February 9, 2024 at 3:00 PM at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, 3401 Bladensburg Rd, Brentwood, MD 20722.