Brenda Juanita Hardy-Reed made her entrance into the world on March 13, 1958. Brenda was born to Barbara Hardy and the late Charles Hardy. She was their one and only little girl.

Brenda was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System, graduating from Germantown High School in 1976. For the last 20 years, Brenda worked as a CNA, providing compassionate care both on the clock and off. Brenda made sure that if she was scheduled to work, she would get there, rain, sleet or snow. When her grandmother, Adelaide Wiggins fell sick, she stepped in to provide care of the most tender kind. Brenda was well-loved, both by her patients and her coworkers.

Brenda was a doting mother, grandmother, and aunt, always excited to hear about how well “her kids” were doing. “Send some pictures to my phone,” she would always say. Without a shadow of a doubt, Brenda loved her family fiercely! Nothing made her happier than to be surrounded by family. Even in her final days, her last request was to go home to spend time with her family. The call for family to come went out and was promptly answered. Her family flocked to her side and she shrouded everyone in “I love yous” and she received them just the same.

To know Brenda was to love her, and love her, Terrence did. She and Terrence met in 1994 at Tender Touch Lounge. The two were inseparable from that point on. They enjoyed going to jazz concerts, playing cards, watching movies and taking weekend trips to Atlantic City. The pair wed August 17, 2019. Terrence will no doubt miss her dearly, but he can take comfort in knowing that he cared for her until her last breath.

Brenda was always a lady. She always made time to get her hair, nails and feet done. Brenda loved music and she loved to dance. Her daughter, Latoya, fondly recalls dancing with her mother to Pharell’s song, “Happy.” Her son, Brandon, a self-proclaimed mama’s boy, developed a love for action movies, courtesy of his mom. She was a straight shooter with a heart of gold. She sugar-coated nothing and loved you with everything. She was tiny but mighty. Her children no doubt chuckle when they think back to her early morning cleaning sessions with Luther Vandross blasting through the speakers. “Luther Vandross, Live at Wembly” played on VHS in heavy rotation. Most memories of her are accompanied by music.

When Brenda’s family and friends look back, we will have no shortage of fond memories. From the “every Sunday” family dinners of old, to countless unforgettable family reunions, to our Florida family vacation to the way she beamed with the birth of each grandchild, we have much to look back on and smile.

Brenda was preceded in death by her father Charles Hardy. Brenda leaves to cherish her memory, her adoring husband, Terrence Reed; her loving mother, Barbara Hardy; two well-loved children, Latoya Hardy, her firstborn child and her one and only son, Brandon Hardy; one daughter-in-law, Shashana Hardy; five grandchildren, Abbreanna, Kirenna, Aaminah, Shamod and Shamani; two brothers, her twin Bruce and big brother, Sherwood and sister-in-law, Sandra Hardy; her parents-in-law, George and Shirley Reed; two step-sons, Terrence Jr. and Tahji Reed; two brothers-in-law, Derrick and Victor Reed(Marielle); a host of nieces and nephews as well as many beloved family and close friends.

Brenda will be missed but very fondly remembered. She left an indelible mark on her family and friends. While she rests, her children can find peace in knowing that the love she had for each of them will never be extinguished.