Birth: March 1, 1965, to the late Mildred Anna Scott Jones
Death: November 26, 2023  

Education: 
Graduate of Easton High School, Class of 1983 

Work Life:   
Brenda worked 40 plus years in the banking industry, starting at St. Michaels Bank. She dedicated the last 35 years of her life to Talbot Bank of Easton, which is now known as Shore United Bank. During her long career she held many titles, roles, and responsibilities—each of which she performed with passion and professionalism. If you were a customer of Brenda's, you walked away with a smile on your face and the feeling you had found a new friend. She retired in September 2023 as the Assistant Vice President and Floating Manager of Shore United Bank.

Hobbies: 
Brenda loved to read, swim, play bingo, travel, and spend time with family and friends. The Bay Bridge Walk was something she looked forward to every year.

Civic Service: 
President of the Frederick Douglass Honor Society
Life member of the NAACP
Recipient of the NAACP’s Dorothy Webb Black Community Service Legacy Award
Past President and member of the Soroptimist International of Talbot County.
The March of Dimes
Bethel AME Church Trustee and Steward Board
Bethel AME Church Missionary Society
Bethel AME Church Gospel Choir

Loves of her life: 
Daughter Brianna N. Wooden, grandson Keegan B. Wooden, sister Frederica Perry (Craig), nephew Kevon I. Shaw, cousins Anna Howie (Kirk), Stephanie Scott, great cousins Jaylen, KJ and Teagan Howie, truly dear friends Robin O'Brien, Harriette Lowry, Julie Burgstahler, Donna Parks, and a host of other friends, co- workers, and loved ones acquired during a lifetime of giving and loving.

Donations can be made in honor of Brenda to:

Frederick Douglass Honor Society Scholarship Fund –
c/o Mid-Shore Community Foundation,
102 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD 21601

or

Talbot Hospice
586 Cynwood Drive
Easton, MD 21601

 

You can read Brenda's obituary here.

 

 

 

 

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Brenda will be missed as a friend and as a leader with Frederick Douglass Honor Society. She loved her family and this community. I’ll remember her with a smile on her face and always a kind word

                                                                                                                                                              Vickie Wilson

 

                                                                                                            

 

 

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Good Afternoon and welcome to the Brenda Wooden Love Club. A person like Brenda does not come around often in most of our lives, and when you do meet someone like her you know it’s different. When I met Brenda for the first time, she greeted me with a warm welcoming smile, like she already knew me and wanted to know more about me; she really took an interest in what I had to say and she listened! After knowing me for a short while, she would greet me on the phone or in person with “Hey Sunshine” or “what’s going on Precious?” My thought was “oh that’s so cute, I’ve got a nickname! Now I wonder, Do any of you remember when you realize she called everyone Sunshine and Precious? I don’t remember when, but I know I was shock that it was not just MY special name! I realize I was ok with that because it was Brenda and she had included me in her special world.

“Sunshine” and “Precious” will always be Brenda’s words, I have never and will never call anyone else that, not because no one else is worthy but because they are Brenda’s terms of endearment!

I want you all to know that Brenda never lost her faith in God, and she had a beautiful relationship with God and I believe she truly was at peace.
Brenda made me a better person and a better friend. She had so much tolerance and patience, yes, especially with me. She taught me how to shop on-line and not be afraid that I was going to get spam or scam. I also asked a lot of questions because she was tech savy, and I was not, but she never made me feel pathic, and I was! Now when I get in a situation where someone has got on my last nerve, I say to myself, WWBDS (what would Brenda do or say?) I do that and it works out for all involved! (Can I have all FDHS board members & volunteers to stand)

Brenda was an awesome President of The FDHS, she represented us so well and she was dedicated to the mission to educate and honor Frederick Douglass. She was very proud of the work the Board, the Volunteers and Supporters put in to see the Mission through especially during her illness. If she were here, she would say Thank you, Team!

Now, I have to say a little something about her national and international friendships, care and love. This past Spring Brenda were invited to Harvard University where she met a professor name Barbara Rodriguez and to no one’s surprise they quickly became very good friends as if they had known each other forever. Another dear friend, Celeste Marie Bernier, a professor from Edinburgh, Scotland loved her, as well. When Brie found out that they wanted to visit Brenda, she made arrangements for that to happen. It was the best surprise, to see her face light up when she saw them. Barbara wrote about that visit: “I could tell that Brenda saw the heartbreak in my eyes when we went to visit her, she held my hand when we were sitting at the table, letting me know, I think, that she saw the heartbreak. I will miss her beauty and wisdom...

One last testament to who she was to so many - we have two more friends of the FDHS that move to England a couple of years ago, but continue to stay in touch and be supportive. When they learned of the passing of Brenda, they knew they had to come back to say goodbye. Rick & Bruce, God bless you for making the trip and showing your love and appreciation for Brenda. She loved & appreciated both of you. Brenda can definitely be considered a friend to all.

We all lost someone so special on November 26, 2023. Shore United Bank lost a loyal employee, I believe she was Shore United’s personal Ambassador for Banking! Bethel AME and St. Stephen’s AME lost a faithful member and friend. She didn’t ask if you wanted to be a part of serving others in need, she just did what was necessary and right to help others, she spread care and joy wherever she was and it was always somewhere it was needed. Our entire community of Talbot County, Easton and the Upper Shore are going to miss what she represented, her warmth, care and kindness to everyone.

I know I am a blessed and better person because Brenda was in my life and I am a better friend because Brenda was the best friend.

Brenda is one more Angel watching over us, God now has one of his best angels helping him and he knew she was prepared for the job.

Brenda genuinely loved us all, she cared for us all, and we will miss her, BUT, we are all better for knowing her, I KNOW I AM!

                                                                                                                                                              Harriette Lowery's remarks at Brenda Wooden's funeral service

 

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“We’re sending all our love and our prayers to Brie and family from Scotland. We’re so sorry not to be with you and we’re thinking of you. Dearest beloved Brenda is in our hearts every day. There are no words that will begin to say how precious, how beautiful, how magical, how awesome, how loving, and how special she was. She was a beautiful life force. She brought love, joy, and happiness to all of us lucky enough to be in her life. She told Andy and me once how important it was to live with “grace and dignity.” She lived her life with all the grace and dignity in the world and with the gift of awe inspiring wisdom. Meeting dearest Brenda and going on our life changing adventures together in Maryland, Scotland, and Boston will live with us all our lives. Brenda was a shining sparkly star lighting up all our worlds. Her beauty, courage, empathy, genius, love, heart, and joy lives in us all forever and always"

                                                                                                                                                              Celeste-Marie Bernier and Andy Green

 

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Brenda was one of the kindest, lovliest people I have come to know in my time working with the Frederick Douglass Honor Society and that is saying something as the entire organization is full of the best people around. When I was filming "Life In Talbot County: Through the Eyes of Frederick Douglass" she was looking forward to portraying Douglass's grandmother. When she couldn't do it she had Brie tell me of her illness so I would know why. One of the last meetings I had with her, she told me some of the plans she had for the organization, she was very optimistic for the future. She will be greatly missed and I hope we can carry her optimism forward.

                                                                                                                                                              Timothy Young

 

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