Brenda Jean Mayes Porter was born on January 24, 1953 to Mary Lou Johnson-Mayes and the late Carnie Mayes Jr. She departed this life on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at Parkview Regional Hospital.

Brenda accepted Christ at an early age of 12 years old at Progressive Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Bishop Jessie White.  Years later Brenda became a member of Lighthouse Cathedral under the leadership of the late Melvin Bolden.  She was employed through the school system, working as a teacher’s aide at Maplewood Elementary School.

Brenda loved spending time with her family, watching movies, listening to music, reading her bible and going out to eat. She was a beautiful mother of four children and a beautiful grandmother of thirteen grand- children and great-grandmother of four.  She also loved God and she had a passion for food.

Brenda leaves to cherish her memories, her mother, Mary Lou Johnson Mayes; her daughter, Rochelle (Joseph) Conwell; her sons, Jermaine (Rebecca)Porter, David (Samantha Doss) Porter and Anthony (Shira Stewart) Porter; her sisters, Regina Mayes Dobynes and Sharon Mayes; her aunt, Ruth Mayes Clancy, a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Carnie Mayes Jr.; her brothers, Willis H. Mayes and Ronnie Mayes; and her grandson, Joseph (Jojo) Conwell.

Poem “Mom”

Words cannot describe the loss I feel. Saying farewell to you, but heaven chose to give you wings…and now it’s time you flew. I wish that we could have way more time, that God had let you stay. Forever would not be long enough, but I would take one more day. I wish I had just one more chance to see that tender smile, to laugh with you again, my dear, just for a little while. Gone too soon, but not forgotten, forever you will remain my guiding light, my shining star, until I see your face again.

Rest easy-Mom-JOB WELL DONE!