Program SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2019 • 11:00AM Procession...................................................................................... Family (Song) “Jesus You’re the Center of My Joy” Final Glimpse Until Glory..............................Funeral Directors in Charge Song............................................................................. Blessed Assurance As arranged by DFW Choir Biblical Readings................................................... Rev. Michael Johnson 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 Rev. Johnnie Simmons Romans 8:24-28 Prayer.........................................................................Rev. Paul Prince, Jr. Song............................................ “Lean Not to Your Own Understanding” Voices of Jerusalem Led by Sister Roslyn Raymond Resolutions................................................................... Jerusalem M.B.C. Deacon Walter Sampson Song........................................................................ “I Will Sing Hallelujah” I Remember Brenda............................................................... Dawn Miles Claudette Berry Lt. Col. Berlin Marshall Michael Prince James Hutchinson Pastoral Remarks................................................... Rev. Justin Alexander Rev. Kenneth Johnson Rev. Paul Prince, Jr. Song............................................................... “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” as arranged by Michael Prince Message of Assurance.................................... Rev. Castro L. Walker, Sr. Invitation to Come to Jesus Recession........................................................................................ Family (Song) ‘Victory Today is Mine’
Brenda’s Story Hello. Thank you for coming today to support my family and friends, during my time of earthly transition. As most of you know, my name is Brenda. I was the first born of Clifton Ray Alexander and Virginia Davis. I was born in Houston, Texas on April 17,1959. They decided to name me Brenda Eve. I never told anyone my middle name and I could count the times that I used it; once on my high school graduation announcements and second, my wedding invitations. I did not want to deal with the jokes. However, joke now if you must, it is quite O.K. I cannot hear them! My parents moved from Houston to Philadelphia (Philly), Pennsylvania where we lived there until 1967 where I was a student of St. Ignatatius Catholic School. In 1967, my mother sent us back to Houston, Texas to live with our grandparents, (Earl and Leatha Mae aka Big Momma & Slim). I received my education from J.C. McDade Elementary, Northwood Jr. High School and was a graduate of Forest Brook High School, class of 1976. My grandmother, Big Momma had strong convictions about you knowing God and belonging to a church. So on Easter Sunday 1968, Reverend Wiley L. Dunn, Sr. baptized me at New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church. I remained a member there until I followed my daughter to Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church and joined in October 1999 under Pastor Castro L. Walker, Sr. I came in spiritually hungry and on fire. I worked mostly with the youth department, the Annual Women’s Day events, Vacation Bible School and was a member of the Jerusalem Inspirational Singers. My first job was with the Exxon Corporation at their Credit Card Center. I was an employee from January 2, 1980 until the center closed on July 15, 1994. I was able to be an ‘at home’ mom until Logan began school. Later, I became an employee of Coastal/El Paso Corporation from 1996 until 2002 where I was again, without a job! That unemployment only lasted until August of the same year. I became a long-term substitute teacher for North Forest ISD. That was where I believe I found ‘my’ calling. God blessed me to be able to teach English at, my Alma Mater, Forest Brook High School for
three years. I instantly fell in love with educating children. I also found out that teachers did more than teach. We mentored, supervised, counseled, refereed, hugged, yelled, cried, loved and most of all learned from the children in our midst. Later, I became the secretary for B.C. Elmore Middle School. Reluctantly, I left North Forest ISD to become an employee of Houston ISD. I met, fell in love with and married Lafayette Prince, Jr. It was a whirlwind romance. Our relationship did receive an ‘abundance’ of help from a mutual friend, the late James Narcisse. From the first day, Lafayette and I met, until the day of our wedding, October 17, 1987, was ONLY a total of 15 months. We had a ‘fairy tale’ wedding surrounded by family and friends. Until my death, I could remember every detail of our wedding day!
After a ‘touch and go’ pregnancy, due to more heart complications, a mandated bed rest stay in the hospital (or as Lafayette so adversely states 21 days of H- E- DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS) and being in ‘active’ labor for more than 96 hours, I became the proud mother of a daughter on December 10, 1993. We named her Logan Alexia. Due to my heart challenges and advice from doctors, Logan remained our only child. However, let me tell you that everything I went through becoming Logan’s mother was the epitome of my life! And, I would do it all over again without any reservations. I do have a few regrets, like not visiting Paris and other parts of the U.S., not furthering my education, seeing all of the Wonders of the World, and some others. I am so glad that due to God’s patience, grace and mercy, I still had a full and good life. Waiting for me in glory: Virginia Davis my mother; Clifton and Janie Alexander my daddy and step-mom who traveled with me through thick and thin and thick again; maternal grand-parents, Earl and Leatha Franklin (Big Momma and Slim). And many, many more loved ones, family and friends.
I am leaving in God’s care: Lafayette and Logan, my husband and daughter, who meant the world to me; Our God-Daughter, Delaney Rose; My brothers, Anthony (Tony) who I saw as my protector, William who I saw as my baby, Carl Wayne who called himself my ‘big’ brother and brother Michael: a beloved cousin-brother, Byron Davis you were my confidant. Aven, my nephew, the first grandchild of our family, always remember what I told you about letting God into your heart and what you must do to get into His kingdom, Michael and Matthew, my nephews known as ‘the twins’. Michael stay focused also and keep an eye out for Matthew and Logan. My Matt-Pooh, I can say, you are a living miracle and proof of God’s work! Dee-Dee, Gabbie, Loren, Taylor and Corben my nieces and nephew by way of the Carter Family, I went out holding the title as the ‘crazy’ aunt who you wanted to keep away from your friends, continue to make me proud. Bev, the sister I never had, my friend and much more. I always admired and loved you. Also Carla (Nana), Michael and Veronica Carter. Aunt: Mary Whitfield of Camden, NJ. And Helen Wesley of San Fransisco, CA and the coolest aunt and uncle Addie & Andre Talaiferro and my Uncle William (Nick) Taliaferro of Philadelphia, PA. My friend Erma, Exxon does not owe us anything, Kathy what can I say but ‘Thank you.’ And, my sweet friend Tisha, keep letting God’s light shine through you as well as your family. I also leave in God’s care the best in-laws anyone could have: Lorine Prince (Me-Me) thanks for being a mother-in-law like only YOU could have been. You were my Naomi and I didn’t have any problem being your Ruth. Thanks to you and your belief in God and your works to get others to know Him, your God became my God. Michael Prince (Mike) thanks for being the best brother in love in the world and you are quite welcome for the lessons I taught you about having a sister in the family! Thanks also for the many, many bible studies we had during choir rehearsals. Also my sister in love Karan, a wonderful niece Nia and nephew Michael (Lil Mike). To Dawn Miles, Rev. Jones, and the rest of my Jerusalem family, keep working for others to ‘catch the vision’. I will miss you. To my many other family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and students, remember that God is the only way to gain everlasting life. In order to see me again, you must let Him into your hearts. Well, this is my story and my song. I’m headed to gain my ‘blessed assurance’. I bid you farewell and smooches. Brenda Eve Alexander-Prince
The Cast
Final Arrangements By Boyd’s Funeral Home 7411 Wheatley St. Houston, TX 77088 281.445.0971
Interment
Golden Gate Cemetery 8400 Hirsch Rd. Houston, TX 77016
Repast
Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church
Active Pallbearers
Honorary Pallbearers
Dominic Johnson Dwight Winters Michael A. Carter Corben Carter-Dixon Roland Dixon Blake Walton
Michael Davis Matthew Davis Byron Davis Carl Brown Michael J. Prince William Alexander Anthony Alexander HISD JROTC
Acknowledgements God bless you all for your acts of kindness and expression of sympathy during our great loss. We sincerely appreciate the love you have shown us. A special “Thanks’ to the staff at Memorial Hermann Medical Center and Kindred-Medical Center who provided and showed exceptional love as they cared for our loved one. Funeral Programs Designed & Printed by Cedric Stover (713) 922-5282 • cedstover@gmail.com