With heavy hearts and teary eyes, we gather under the weight of the loss of our beloved Brenda Marie Burton, a sweet soul who danced through life like a firefly on a warm summer night. A mother to two bright stars, Corrine Burton and Tascha Muhammad, she wore her laughter like a Sunday bonnet, a crown woven with joy and mischief. Her smile, oh, it could light up the darkest of rooms, and her humor, as rich as molasses, was always there to sweeten the day.

Brenda, a proud graduate of Seton Hall University, was a woman of grit and grace, a trailblazer who carved pathways for those who came after her, a steadfast oak in a forest of uncertainty. She believed in the strength of hard work, planting seeds of wisdom in the fertile soil of her family. But it was in the embrace of her grandchildren where her heart truly sang—a symphony of love that echoed through the halls of her home. Each grandchild held a piece of her spirit, cherished like a rare gem, and she nurtured that bond with a tenderness that only a grandmother knows.

Now, though the stars shine a little dimmer without her light, Brenda’s legacy dances on in the hearts of those she cherished. She was a fierce protector, a joyous spirit unafraid to speak her mind, living life with a fire that could warm the coldest of nights. She is reunited with her beloved life partner, James Franklin, and her grandson, Kumar Lovelace, in a heavenly reunion that brings solace to our sorrow.

Surviving her are her two daughters, Corrine of Oklahoma City and Tascha of Chesapeake VA—each carrying a piece of her fierce spirit. Her seven grandchildren—Tashon, Shonice, Gyasa, Shaquille, Soldier-Ali, Haniyah, and Qari-Ali—are forever touched by her love, and they will carry her laughter in their hearts. And let us not forget the five great-grandchildren, Tashon Jr., Isaiah, Londyn, Reyna, and Gemma, who will grow up with the stories of a woman who loved deeply and lived boldly.

Though she may have taken her leave, Brenda’s spirit dances like fireflies in the twilight, reminding us to cherish each moment, to laugh loud, and to love fiercely. Her legacy will bloom in the hearts of her family, a garden of memories that will never fade. Oh, how we miss her dearly, but we find comfort in knowing that her soul is wrapped in the embrace of love everlasting.