BRENDA JOYCE HALIBURTON (AGE 74) OF WALDORF, MARYLAND.

Brenda Joyce Ray was born to Christine V. McClain and Joseph S. Ray in Fayetteville, North Carolina on September 26, 1946, during the Jim Crow Era. She grew up the eldest of her siblings, Gloria A. Ray, Stephen B. Ray, and Angela M. McClain. She was the last living of her siblings. In a southern culture where hospitality often depended on your color, she was no stranger to discrimination from those who could not appreciate the richness of her beautiful brown feminine skin.

Surrounded and supported by extended family, she thrived in school and attended church frequently wearing custom designed clothing by her seamstress grandmother, Ada P. Carver. At the age of 12, she accepted Christ, the fruit of her growth in her relationship with God becoming increasingly evident in her adult life. Her teenage years were marked by such history making events such as, many civil rights protests, the establishment of The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the March on Washington, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. However, she was on a journey that would shape her own personal history, a history marked by faith. Completing the pledge as a debutant, she went on to graduate from E.E. Smith High School in 1964. Moving to Washington D.C. to build a new life for herself, she would give birth to a daughter, Alicia Ann Ray (Alicia Haliburton Williams) as the nation was experiencing intense birthing pains in an effort for equality for all and the ending of the Jim Crow laws.

With the continued support of her family, D.C. Teacher's College behind her, and employed with the Main US Post Office, Brenda also known as B.J., would marry Lou C. Haliburton and a couple of years later give birth to a son, Marcus L. Haliburton. She would continue her studies in multiple areas at P.G. Community College, Washington Bible College, N.C. College of Theology Satellite College in Annapolis, Maryland. The individual classes and professional workshops are too many to list. She was determined to learn and share her knowledge with others.

While earning many letters of commendation, certificates, awards, and special recognitions at the postal service, B.J. continued developing other gifts as well. She was a lifetime member of the International Society of Poets, a member of the International Society of Photographers, a board member of her daughter and son-in-law's ministry for many years, wrote countless poems, wrote music, enjoyed teaching, singing, preaching, and international fellowship. She wrote children's curriculum for Urban Ministries, Inc. She authored/published four books, was inducted into the National Register's Who's Who in Executives and Professionals 2003-2004 , listed in Great Women of the 21 ^st Century - Cambridge England, and was a Lifetime Deputy Governor for the American Biographical Institute.

Think about the times and the level of courage and tenacity required to pursue one's purpose. It takes faith to sculpt a history within a history and that is exactly what Brenda had. Brenda's faith would lead her to be nurtured into multiple streams of ministry. She was licensed at Liberty A.M.E. Zion Church in 1992 and ordained as an Elder in Kingdom Christian Center Church in 2000. Her dream of sharing her faith would lead her around the world and her family would continue to grow along with her siblings' families.

When it came to her passion for travel, her thought was, "how do you know it exists unless you see it for yourself?"  While advancements in civil rights would continue, she would exercise her freedom as an American and as a human being. Her travels across the U.S. took her to New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. Her travel around the world took her to Cancun, Newfoundland, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Morocco, Spain, England, France, Samar Philippines, Seoul, China, Brazil, The Bahamas and Colombia, filled with the perfect blend of education, enjoyment, and ministry …filled with purpose.

Her goal was to make an impact wherever she went, inspiring hope in those she encountered. However, nothing would motivate her more deeply than her legacy.

Brenda would witness the inauguration and repeat election of America's first African American president. The continual transitions and fluctuations of any culture are indicative of life itself.

When a loved one transitions, the gifts, ideas, hope and love they freely gave will continue to grow in those they left to discover, study, redesign, reshape, those ideas. We are left to create new hope, give fresh love, explore our gifts, fulfill our divine purpose. As, the village who supported her transitioned before her, in her transition, a new village steps up to continue the family legacy.

Brenda Joyce Haliburton leaves to continue God's dream for this family, her daughter, Alicia Haliburton Williams; son, Marcus Haliburton and daughter-in-law Nicole Haliburton; her grandchildren, Joyce Yvonne (Williams)Gabourel (husband Brian), Jocelynn Denise Williams, Jessica Darice Williams, Joel Dominique Williams, Janaye Destiny Williams, Braiya Nicole Haliburton, and Marcus Demond Haliburton; her great-grandchildren, Makayla Desiree' Gabourel, Marshall Bryce Gabourel, and Morgan Riley Gabourel; nieces, Brenda Ray Soles(Frank Sr.), Thelene Smith Davis, Aretha Moultrie(Ned); nephew, Sherrod McClain; grand and great nieces and nephews, Arona Powe(Derrick), Tiras Ray(Sparkle), Frank Soles Jr. Franeisha Soles, Xavier Smith, Bobby Thompson Jr., Ned Moultrie, Nate Moultrie, Tyree Alexander Smith, Naila Powe, Naia Powe, God – son, Joseph Bailey a host of adopted sons and daughters, beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, friends and countless memories of the grace of God that permeated her life.

There will be a Memorial Service on Saturday, June 26th in the Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A. in celebration of a life well lived.  The Family Gathering at 11:00 am, until time of Memorial Service, 12:00 pm.

On Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 12:00 p.m., please click on the link below to live stream the service.

Please make sure when viewing the services that the volume located in the right lower corner (where it says "live") on the viewing screen is turned up (the bars should be blue).

https://www.thorntonfuneralhomepa.com/live-stream