Brenda Joan Harris
Born January 1, 1945 in Fort Meade, FloridaPassed October 24, 2024 in Melbourne, Florida
Brenda was born in Fort Meade, Florida on January 1, 1945. Not only did her arrival kick off an amazing new year for her parents and older brother, Brent, it began a lifetime of love and blessings for countless numbers to come.
After an idyllic life growing up with a loving family in her small town, Brenda graduated from Fort Meade High School in 1962 and moved to Cleveland, Tennessee to attend Lee University and earn a degree in business. After that, she returned home and worked in a hometown law office for a year before following her heart to Melbourne, Florida. Once she was settled on the Space Coast, Brenda went to work for Jim Nance, a young lawyer who had been practicing in Brevard for about a year. The firm grew and became known as Nance Cacciatore where she stayed nearly 55 years. Her loyalty, compassion, trustworthiness and strong work ethic supported the firm’s success in helping countless numbers of injured people and their loved ones obtain settlements and also prevail in precedent setting courtroom decisions. Brenda didn’t spend over five decades just working hard and “minding the store” while the attorneys made history, she was also a “work mom” to many of her coworkers and sometimes their family members, too. Her contributions of kindness, caring, practicing The Golden Rule and, yes, sometimes tough love shaped the culture of the office in ways that continue today.
Beyond a successful professional life, Brenda was a loving and fiercely devoted mother to her son, Gregory, who was born in 1971. In 1976, her daughter, Kimberly Joan, was born and multiplied the love Brenda had to give. Although she did not have children biologically, God made Greg and Kim just for her! It was a long-standing joke that they were not brought by the stork like most babies but were delivered in the mailbox. This always made for a lot of giggles since she told how Greg was a total happy surprise when she opened the mailbox door – all nice and neat and tiny – but Kim was chubby with chunky legs that wouldn’t fit. Since the fat little legs were hanging out, Brenda could see them kicking from the window and ran out there to get her baby. The fact of the matter is that it was not the stork or the mailman, but God Himself who saw the aching desires of Brenda’s heart and made her the mama she was supposed to be with the children that were created to be hers. What seemed like the impossible became a lasting reality.
Brenda will be celebrated forever for her southern charm, determined strength, resolute loyalty and fantastic sense of humor. Besides laughing and hearing everyone’s recent goings-on, one of her favorite things to do was give to others. She truly got more happiness from giving than receiving. It would be impossible to itemize her acts of generosity because she did most of them quietly and secretly. Many times she didn’t know the recipients of the gift and they didn’t know her, but she heard the story and saw the need. Brenda never contemplated whether she should do the right thing, only how to do it. She was humble to a fault, but reveled in watching others share in her joy and blessings.
One of Brenda’s favorite poems says, “I’m drinking from my saucer because my cup has overflowed.” Luckily her love, caring and exuberance spilled over onto those of us lucky enough to be with her as family or friend – in her heart the line between the two often disappeared. Her parents, Dudley and Lillian Driskell, were waiting for her in heaven. Her brother, Brent, and his wife, Becky – who became a sister – both of Fort Meade, survive her. She is also survived by her son, Greg Harris, her daughter, Kim Connor, and Kim’s husband, Ricky Connor – who became another son to her – all of Melbourne. Destiny (David) Spencer, Tripp Connor, Reece Connor, Cailey Harris, Zachary Harris and Hayden Harris are all lucky to say she is their grandmother. Landon McConnell and Gavin Spencer get to call her their great-grandmother. She is Aunt Brenda to Tracy Ayers and her daughter, Kearstin; Stephanie Douglas and her children, Emily and Nate; and Jennifer (Tim) Mullis and her children, Kyleeana and Kason. She was also blessed to have bonus children – Dana (Hannah) Harris and Deanna (Greg) Maxwell – bonus grandchildren – Aaron Harris, Elizabeth Harris, Joan (Hunter) Suggs, Rebecca Maxwell and Abby Maxwell – and bonus great-grandchildren – Ava Suggs and Max Suggs – all of Georgia.
Help us celebrate Brenda on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Discover Life Church, located at 3550 West Eau Gallie Boulevard, Melbourne, Florida. We will meet to honor the things we loved best about a true lady that we will miss the most. By living with grace, determination and total faith in God, she reminded us that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful. By coming together and thanking God for the time we had with her and the lessons learned from her and by lifting each other up, we can be like Brenda and carry on her legacy.