Brenda D. Harris

Brenda was the first born in the family of four siblings. At an early age, Brenda was baptized under the leadership of Rev. Charles Marks of the Union Baptist Church in Morristown, New Jersey. She attended Sunday school and summer youth programs at the church. She also volunteered in the church’s nursery.

Brenda graduated from Morristown High School in 1971 where she played on the girls’ basketball team and was a member of the cheerleading squad and debate team. After graduation, she attended North Carolina A&T University where she studied education.

Upon her return to New Jersey, Brenda’s career expanded to a managerial role at AT&T where she supervised technicians in the field. She established herself as a leader and broke down barriers as one of the few women in a male-dominated field. Upon retiring from AT&T, she took on the role of church secretary at her beloved Calvary Baptist Church.

On November 14, 1986, she was united in marriage to the love of her life and her soulmate, Ezekial “Zeke” Harris. From this union, their daughter, Sara, was born.

In 2009, Brenda relocated to Maryland to be closer to her children. She quickly made friends and built community amongst her new neighbors. She loved to participate in and assist with social events in the community, to play cards, listen to music, sit by the pool and share a good laugh. She enjoyed preparing food for others and happily shared her amazing cooking skills with everyone she met. No one ever successfully turned down a plate from Brenda’s kitchen!

Family meant everything to Brenda and her greatest sources of pride were her children and grandchildren. She loved and nurtured her family. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her devoted mother, Alice Martin (MI); her loving children Erica (James) McCreary and Stewart (Tiffany) Winston, of Maryland, and Sara Alice Harris (Mathew) of Boston. She will be missed by her loving siblings, Renee Martin (NJ) and Leonard “Lenny” Martin (OH). Her precious grandchildren, Skylar and Carter, were the twinkle in her eye and the laughter in her heart. She is predeceased by her adoring husband, Ezekial, and her younger brother, James “Jimmy” Martin.

In addition, she leaves behind her many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and extended family, whom she loved very much.

Brenda had a warm spirit and zest for life that she shared with everyone she encountered. Her infectious smile and her robust laughter lit up the room and she will truly be missed.

Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024 - 12pm at Calvary Baptist Church

10 Martin Luther King Avenue Morristown, NJ 07960