Brenda Birch

BIRCH, BRENDA JACQUETTA - beloved daughter, niece and mother - joined the angels on December 30, 2013. Born on March 27, 1945 in Newark NJ, Brenda's love of music gained her a place at Arts High School prior to moving to Washington, DC to study teaching at Howard University. After moving to Crofton in 1976, Brenda became very involved in the community. Whether donating brownies for a school bake sale, serving as a Girl Scout leader, volunteering with the Boy Scouts or acting as a CCD teacher with Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish; Brenda played an active role not only in her children's education, but the community as well. Most recently, Brenda was a devoted member of St Gregory the Great in Baltimore serving on the Parish Pastoral Council as well as a number of other Church committees. Known to so many as 'Mama Birch', Brenda's true passion has always been early childhood development. For over three decades, she opened her home and her heart shaping the young minds of dozens of children in the Crofton/Bowie area. She loved her 'little people', as she called them, and had watched many grow to have families of their own. Brenda will join her parents Haywood Whitsett and Mary Pearline Dawson in Heaven. She is survived by her children; Carla (Marc), Jason (U'ilani) and Robyn; and Godchildren Johnny and Tammy. To continue their mother's legacy of raising and educating children, her family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Brenda J. Birch Memorial Fund for Children, which will support a local charity whose mission is to assist in the development and education of young minds. Family will receive family and friends from 3-6pm on Friday, January 17th at the family-owned BEALL FUNERAL HOME 6512 NW Crain Hwy Bowie, MD 20715 with a Celebration of Life Memorial Service and repast to follow from 6:30 pm 9:00 pm at Historic Baldwin Hall 1358 Millersville Road Millersville, MD 21108. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11am on Saturday January the 18th at St. Gregory the Great 1542 N. Gilmore Street Baltimore, MD 21217 with repast immediately following in the church hall. Please view and sign the family's guestbook at: www.beallfuneral.com