Obituary for Brenda B. Hughes (Bethea)
We welcome flower arrangements for the family be sent to First Baptist Church of District Heights on the date of service.
Ways to offer a memorial donation can be made towards the American Heart Association
On November 25, 2023, at Inova Fairfax Hospital, Brenda Bethea Hughes, entered eternal rest when she heard the “still small voice” and answered: “I cannot stay: My heart I yield without delay – vain world, farewell from thee I part, the voice of God hath reached my heart”. Brenda Joan Bethea was born March 13, 1941, in High Point, North Carolina, the only child of Jack Bethea Jr and Gussie Bethea Robinson.
She received her early education in the public schools of Gilford County, North Carolina, graduating from William Penn High School. As a child she would spend summers in Georgia with her cousins, The Casons (Clarence, Nathaniel, Hillis, Eugene Jr, Bobby, James, Carolyn, Betty, Margaret). Growing up she attended Pearson Memorial A.M.E. Church. She continued her education at North Carolina Central at Durham (now NCCU) where she played trumpet in the marching band and pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She graduated June 3, 1962, with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Immediately following graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C. to live with her Aunt Marie and Uncle Jimmy McDowell. She began her career as an accountant working for the Federal Government at the Department of Agriculture. She would work in various agencies of the federal government for the next 15 years.
On September 28, 1963, at Brown Memorial A.M.E. Church in Washington, D.C., Brenda married Richard Olympia Hughes. They met at a dance while she was attending college, and he was serving in the Marine Corps, stationed in North Carolina. It was probably the handsome man in uniform that captured her eye! Their marriage of 60 years produced two wonderful children, Vernita Rene’ and Richard Jr. (Ricky).
In the fall of 1968, Brenda and Richard purchased a home in Wilburn Estates of Capitol Heights, Maryland. Brenda was involved with the Good Neighbors Club, the Wilburn Civic Association, the Prince George’s County Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Alumnae Chapter, and the PTA at the schools her children attended. Though Richard was in the Marine Corps for 20 years, the family only moved once – to Oahu Island, Hawaii from 1977 – 1980. Brenda and Richard returned to their home and lived in the community for 53 years before moving with their son and his family to Virginia in December of 2020.
As an advocate for her community and children, she served as president of the County Council of the Parent, Teachers Association (PTA) and served on the County Executive’s Education Advisory Council. She was encouraged to run for the Prince George’s County School Board and won. She served on the Board from 1988 to 1993. While serving on the Board, she would meet fellow Board member, Sarah Johnson, who would later become her daughter’s mother-in-law.
While serving on the Board, she was appointed to the Maryland State Legislature, to fill a vacancy in the House of Delegates for the 25th District of Prince George’s County. As a Delegate she served on the Ways and Means Committee, 1993-94 (housing & social issues subcommittee; finance resources subcommittee); Appropriations Committee, 1995-99 (capital budget subcommittee; oversight committee on pensions; vice-chair, transportation & the environment subcommittee); Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 1995-99; Special Joint Committee on Pensions, 1995-99; and Special Committee on Rail Mergers, 1997. Additionally, she served as Vice-Chair, Law Enforcement and State Appointed Boards Committee, Prince George's County Delegation, 1996-99; and was a member of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus from 1993-99. After six years in the State Legislature, she continued working for the State
of Maryland with the Port Authority where she would present projects to the Board of Public Works (the State of Maryland Governor, Comptroller and Treasurer) for funding. She left that position in ____to move with her husband to Germany for the next 5 years.
Brenda loved to listen to music, to dance and to travel. She went on cruises to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. She travelled to Israel, Senegal, Turkey, Italy, Switzerland, London and Paris. She also loved her grandchildren. After spending summers with her in Germany, she became affectionately known as “OMA”, German for grandmother. She would travel with her grands to Disney World, Paris, Massanutten, Williamsburg, the Outer banks, Marco Island, and Kansas (to visit relatives).
She leaves to cherish her memory: her dedicated and loving husband, Richard O. Hughes; two children: Vernita (Kenneth) Johnson and Richard O. (Benita) Hughes, Jr.; five grandchildren: Ashton Johnson, Carmen Johnson, Devonte’ Pitts, Tahirah Hughes and Taliyah Hughes; three sisters-in-law: Judy Joyner, Helen Wyatt and Albertine Hughes; two brothers-in-law: Harry Hughes and Timothy Hughes; and a host of other relatives, sorority sisters, neighbors and friends. She leaves a great treasure of memories for us all to share.
Ways to offer a memorial donation can be made towards the American Heart Association
On November 25, 2023, at Inova Fairfax Hospital, Brenda Bethea Hughes, entered eternal rest when she heard the “still small voice” and answered: “I cannot stay: My heart I yield without delay – vain world, farewell from thee I part, the voice of God hath reached my heart”. Brenda Joan Bethea was born March 13, 1941, in High Point, North Carolina, the only child of Jack Bethea Jr and Gussie Bethea Robinson.
She received her early education in the public schools of Gilford County, North Carolina, graduating from William Penn High School. As a child she would spend summers in Georgia with her cousins, The Casons (Clarence, Nathaniel, Hillis, Eugene Jr, Bobby, James, Carolyn, Betty, Margaret). Growing up she attended Pearson Memorial A.M.E. Church. She continued her education at North Carolina Central at Durham (now NCCU) where she played trumpet in the marching band and pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She graduated June 3, 1962, with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Immediately following graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C. to live with her Aunt Marie and Uncle Jimmy McDowell. She began her career as an accountant working for the Federal Government at the Department of Agriculture. She would work in various agencies of the federal government for the next 15 years.
On September 28, 1963, at Brown Memorial A.M.E. Church in Washington, D.C., Brenda married Richard Olympia Hughes. They met at a dance while she was attending college, and he was serving in the Marine Corps, stationed in North Carolina. It was probably the handsome man in uniform that captured her eye! Their marriage of 60 years produced two wonderful children, Vernita Rene’ and Richard Jr. (Ricky).
In the fall of 1968, Brenda and Richard purchased a home in Wilburn Estates of Capitol Heights, Maryland. Brenda was involved with the Good Neighbors Club, the Wilburn Civic Association, the Prince George’s County Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Alumnae Chapter, and the PTA at the schools her children attended. Though Richard was in the Marine Corps for 20 years, the family only moved once – to Oahu Island, Hawaii from 1977 – 1980. Brenda and Richard returned to their home and lived in the community for 53 years before moving with their son and his family to Virginia in December of 2020.
As an advocate for her community and children, she served as president of the County Council of the Parent, Teachers Association (PTA) and served on the County Executive’s Education Advisory Council. She was encouraged to run for the Prince George’s County School Board and won. She served on the Board from 1988 to 1993. While serving on the Board, she would meet fellow Board member, Sarah Johnson, who would later become her daughter’s mother-in-law.
While serving on the Board, she was appointed to the Maryland State Legislature, to fill a vacancy in the House of Delegates for the 25th District of Prince George’s County. As a Delegate she served on the Ways and Means Committee, 1993-94 (housing & social issues subcommittee; finance resources subcommittee); Appropriations Committee, 1995-99 (capital budget subcommittee; oversight committee on pensions; vice-chair, transportation & the environment subcommittee); Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 1995-99; Special Joint Committee on Pensions, 1995-99; and Special Committee on Rail Mergers, 1997. Additionally, she served as Vice-Chair, Law Enforcement and State Appointed Boards Committee, Prince George's County Delegation, 1996-99; and was a member of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus from 1993-99. After six years in the State Legislature, she continued working for the State
of Maryland with the Port Authority where she would present projects to the Board of Public Works (the State of Maryland Governor, Comptroller and Treasurer) for funding. She left that position in ____to move with her husband to Germany for the next 5 years.
Brenda loved to listen to music, to dance and to travel. She went on cruises to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. She travelled to Israel, Senegal, Turkey, Italy, Switzerland, London and Paris. She also loved her grandchildren. After spending summers with her in Germany, she became affectionately known as “OMA”, German for grandmother. She would travel with her grands to Disney World, Paris, Massanutten, Williamsburg, the Outer banks, Marco Island, and Kansas (to visit relatives).
She leaves to cherish her memory: her dedicated and loving husband, Richard O. Hughes; two children: Vernita (Kenneth) Johnson and Richard O. (Benita) Hughes, Jr.; five grandchildren: Ashton Johnson, Carmen Johnson, Devonte’ Pitts, Tahirah Hughes and Taliyah Hughes; three sisters-in-law: Judy Joyner, Helen Wyatt and Albertine Hughes; two brothers-in-law: Harry Hughes and Timothy Hughes; and a host of other relatives, sorority sisters, neighbors and friends. She leaves a great treasure of memories for us all to share.