Brenda Carroll (Cartwright) Cornish

BRENDA CARROLL CORNISH was born on March 8, 1948, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, to the late Pearl Priscilla Cartwright and Daniel Webster Cartwright.

Brenda was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System and later obtained her associate’s degree from Baltimore Community College. Upon completing her studies, she transitioned from her position as a switchboard operator at Lutheran Hospital to become a respiratory technician. Brenda had a true servant’s heart as she worked in multiple capacities within the hospital setting as she cared for others, but her most important role was retiring early to become a full-time caregiver for her mother.

At the age of 19, she married Marvin Cornish. From that union came her oldest child, Dr. Cassandra (Sandy) Matthews. She later met and fell in love with Johnny Lewis. Their love produced her second child, Adrian (AJ) Lewis. One of Brenda’s proudest honors in life was being a “mother.” Her children were her world. Although she was a single parent for most of her life, she ALWAYS put her children first. LOVE is who she was, and anyone in her presence could feel her kind and loving heart. She was the safe space, the secret keeper, the voice of reason, and moral compass. She didn’t take sides because you were family or a friend; she always sided with righteousness.

Brenda accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at an early age, then later rededicated her life to Christ at City Temple Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir.

As one of four of Pearl’s Girls, Brenda enjoyed dancing at cabarets, bowling with coworkers, playing pinochle at card parties with her friends, and traveling to the Charlestown Casino with her nieces. As her health began to decline, she moved to Atlanta with her children, where she acquired new friends and hobbies. Brenda enjoyed hosting Pokeno parties with neighbors and friends, helping with holiday meals, watching reality shows, sneaking her grand dogs' snacks, and hogging the TV remote.

Brenda was preceded in death by her parents: Daniel and Pearl Cartwright; sisters Audrey Monroe and Alice Cartwright; Sister-in-Love: Thelma Cartrwight; Brother-in-Love: William Thornton, niece Toia Cartwright-Jones, and best friend Gerthenia “Peggy” Robinson. Her legacy lives on through her beloved children: Cassandra “Sandy” Matthews, Adrian “AJ” Lewis, Grandchildren Anthony Taylor, Adrianna ‘PJ” Ellison, bonus grandson Dylan Hodges, and great-granddaughter Maleia Whitehead. Siblings: Daniel Cartwright (VA), Dr. Lionel Cartwright (Gladys, NC), Bonita Cartwright (MD). Nieces and Nephews: Demetria, Carol, Phyllis, Darryl, Kevin, Keith, Danielle, Melanie, Ramon, Tiffany, and Mark. Bonus sons and daughters: Ezra, Mike, Ron, Angela, Tonya, Shannon, Danisha, Pam, Tisha, and her home health aides: Carol, LaShonda, and Rhonda, along with a host of extended relatives and friends.

Brenda Carroll Cornish’s life is a testament to love, sacrifice, resilience, and faith. She made people feel seen and loved, and she was always willing to lend a helping hand. These are CARTWRIGHT family values, and she passed those values on to her children. Her legacy will live on in every life she touched.

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