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BRENDA FAYE BAKER HOWARD Mrs. Brenda Faye Baker Howard was born July 3, 1952, in Austin, Texas, to Elder Floyd Baker and Katie Mae Carr Baker. She was the second of four children. The life of this gentle spirit, Brenda was blessed early in life to accept Christ as her savior, uniting with the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church. She was an active and faithful member, serving in various roles for well over 60 years, until a family member became ill. Her early education began at Rosewood Elementary until the fifth grade, ending her elementary years at Campbell Elementary. She then concluded her junior high school years at Kealing Junior High and graduated from Stephen F. Austin. While attending Kealing and Austin High, she entered the world of music. She became a first- line clarinet player section leader with the tremendously competitive and renowned African American marching band, the Kealing Hornets. For most of the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ’60s, the Eastside of Austin was invisible to most. However, around the mid-'60s, the Kealing Hornets were impetus in changing the perspective surrounding Austin’s young African American marching bands and musicians under the direction of the extremely talented Patterson brothers'. Roy and Alvin were co-founders of a jazz ensemble called “The Rhythm Kings Combo" and the Ebenezer Baptist Church gospel band. Brenda was truly honored and proud to have been directed by the most iconic and legendary brothers and to have taken part in these monumental moments that changed Austin history. She later continued her musical journey with the profound and also highly competitive Austin High marching band as a first-line clarinet player under the direction of LaFalco "Corkey" Robinson, known world-wide as the music man. The Austin Maroons were the first marching band in Texas to be selected by Governor John Connally to represent Texas at the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, in which she had the opportunity to participate. She also received several musical and academic awards. After high school, Brenda landed a full-time office job in Montopolis as a business clerk and a part-time job with Sears and Roebuck as a customer service representative while attending Business College. She received her Associate Science Degree in Business Administration Management from Nixon-Clay Business College. With an administrative management degree in hand, she jump started a long-standing career with the State of Texas/Hill Country as an executive administrator, kickstarting a 36-year career in the administrative field. In 1975, Brenda met Benny Ray “Pee-Wee” Howard at the Texas State School. They were united in holy matrimony on October 28, 1976, in Austin, Texas. To that union, one child was born, Corbin Ray Howard. When Benny passed away in 2009, Brenda was still actively employed at the state school. With the support of their son Corbin, she made the decision to take on their family business, Texas Residential and Vocational Services. Honoring the legacy of Benny, both continued his passionate journey and love for providing independent living services to people with disabilities. Brenda was very passionate about her soap operas; The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless were her favorites. She loved her soaps so much that her neighbor Victor assumed she was still employed because she would leave home at 8:00 a.m. to check in on her brother at the Brush Country Nursing facility. In order for her to avoid interruptions during her soaps and not miss an episode or have a brief Siskel and Ebert commentary discussion with her first cousin Theresa, Brenda would rush back home from the nursing facility around 10:30 a.m. to engage with her soaps. She would then return to the nursing facility around 2:00, ending her day at the facility at 11:00 p.m. This occurred daily, like clockwork; it’s how she rolled, always on the go. She was an exemplary wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and human being. She embodied the best of qualities: unconditional love, strength of spirit, and an unending generosity that could be seen in her care of family members and countless others. She accepted everyone with an open heart, open arms, and a perpetual smile. She had immense passion for her family and spiritual faith; she was that unwavering soldier of faith and family. Her legacy will continue to resonate in the hearts and minds of those fortunate enough to have known her. Her kindness, integrity, and devotion to her family will be forever cherished. As we celebrate Brenda’s life, we carry with us her love for giving care and her unshakeable belief in the transformative power of kindness. She strongly felt that her purpose was to care for others and share with those who cared for her the importance of caring for family. She took care of the weak and checked in on the strong. Her departure comes as a great shock and a deep wound, and it is gravely felt by her entire family and countless others who loved her deeply in her network and community. Brenda was preceded in death by her parents, Katie Mae Carr Baker and Elder Floyd Baker, and her husband, Benny Ray Howard ( Pee Wee), Sister Georgia Wright, Mother-in-law Ida Jean Howard, Father-in-Law Rev. Arthur Gene Howard (A.G.), Brother-in-Laws Randolph Howard and Clarence Anderson, and nephew in-law Anthony S. House. She leaves to cherish her memory: one son, Corbin Ray Howard; one grandson, Marquis Corbin Howard (Portia); and one granddaughter, A’ Riah Renae McNeese Howard. One brother, Rev. Floyd Dell Baker, and one sister, Marlene Washington (Woodrow Washington), two nephews, Kenneth L. Johnson and Shon L. Johnson, and three nieces, Rochelle D. Jones, Shannon L. Johnson House, and Lashondra S. Washington (Derrick), two brothers-in-law, Douglas Howard and Eric Howard, and one sister-in-law, Doris Howard (Min. Roy H. Howard Jr.) In addition to nine great-nephews, Jordan K. Johnson, Kameron T. Johnson, Jakobe P. Johnson, Terrell L. Johnson, Terron Johnson, Shon L. Johnson Jr., and Khari O. Johnson, Lerone B. Hill III, Korbin A. Hill; nine great-nieces, Kya Johnson, Savanna E. Johnson, Jaida S. Gomez, Kiana N. Johnson, Victoria I. Carrillo Johnson (KoKo, Liyah A. House, Skylah J. Sorrells, Kimani A. Carrillo Johnson, and Tashika Baker; three great-great nieces, Sa’Laijah I. Johnson and Tsireya M. Johnson, and ZaRiah G. Hill; four great-great nephews, Terrell L. Johnson Jr., Lerone B. Hill III, Aiden J. Hill, and Nicholas D. Hill. Theresa Sneed, who was more like a second mom than a first cousin, her hairstylist and friend Celestine Williams, and a host of special relatives and friends.

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Brenda Faye Howard

July 3, 1952 - May 3, 2024