Brenda LaVerne Reaves-Coward

Brenda LaVerne (Reaves) Coward was the first born of the late John Arthur Reaves and the late Mamie Ruth (McLawhorn) Gaskins.  She was born in Greenville, NC on September 8, 1952, and gained her heavenly wings on July 4, 2024 after a prolonged illness.        

Brenda’s family moved to the LeDroit Park section of Washington, DC in the early 1960s where she attended DC public schools prior to attending grade schools in Azores Portugal and Grifton, NC.  Brenda graduated from McKinley Tech High School class of 1970. 

She married twice, first to Richard Coward, Sr. and this union was blessed with Richard Jr. and Nichelle.  In 1990 she then married Clarence Harmon, Jr. and moved to Mississippi where she lived for 20 years, acquiring lots of friends and associates throughout the state of Mississippi.  She attended Jackson State University and obtained her bachelor’s degree in 2002 and her master’s degree in 2004.

Brenda enjoyed cooking and was an excellent cook.  She loved to entertain.  She was an inspiration to many and touched the hearts of everyone she met.  She had a warm, thoughtful, and unselfish soul.  She gave and gave and gave.  She made it her mission to keep in touch with her loved ones, her children, grands, aunt, siblings, nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins, friends and associates just to name a few.  She was very passionate about her Mary Kay business which she started in the late 1970s (46 years).  She became a Senior Director, was an inspiration to many, won many cars, made many many friends and associates. 

Brenda had a big heart and leaves to cherish her memory, her son, Richard A. Coward, Jr., her daughter, Nichelle Coward-Batch (Charles); two grandchildren, Marcus and Jewel; 5 sisters, Minnie Ann Dickerson, Mamie Teresa Yacoub (Ehab), Sheila Y. Sulaiman (Saleh), Saundra Cole (Ronald), Tamara Camille Gaskins-Williams; three brothers Timothy D. Reaves (deceased), John A. Reaves, Jr. (Dolores), Gaudielle Reaves; aunt, Florence McLawhorn Dillahunt of Grifton, NC; Sheila Jones (Richard & Nichelle’s Godmother) and a host of Special Friends, loving nieces, nephews, God-children,  cousins, in-laws and friends. 

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 2, 2024 at the Harvest Assembly Baptist Church - 8008 Fordson Road, Alexandria, VA 22036.  Family Visitation will began at 10:00 A.M., with a Celebration of Life Service starting at 11:00 A.M.  Interment will take place in the Resurrection Cemetery - 8000 Woodyard Road, Clinton, MD 20772.  Following will be a Celebration of Life Luncheon Repast at the Eloquent Touch Ballroon - 3914 Bexley Place, Hillcrest Heights, MD 20746.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Brenda LaVerne Reaves-Coward, please visit our floral store.