Brenda Anderson

Brenda Anderson, a radiant spirit, left an indelible mark on the lives she touched. Born on June 10, 1959, Brenda attended Barringer High School and later studied Business Management at Essex County College. She cultivated her remarkable career as a Recycling Coordinator for the City of Newark which spanned over 30 years. Her award-winning commitment to community was not just about work; it reflected her deep-seated belief in nurturing the world around her.

Kind-hearted, feisty, and fearless, Brenda had a knack for joking with everyone she met, whether they were strangers or cherished friends. She was a devoted wife to William Gourdine for 22 years and a loving mother to Shawn & Jazmine, and her stepchildren Shanee, Xavier, and Anthony Haywood. Brenda found her greatest delight in creating memories with her family, whether embarking on spontaneous road trips, spending time giving advice to her lifelong friends, or dancing with her son on stage during his Zumba classes.

Brenda's spirit was further nourished by her faith. Every Sunday, she could be found at St. James AME Church. In her home, she collected statues of Black Angels, reflecting her love of elegance and the ethereal. Above her bed hung a set of angel wings, an emblem of her belief in guidance and protection, serving as a daily reminder of hope and love. She was always ignited with music and rhythm as she would randomly dance around the house while cleaning or while cruising around town in her beloved jeep with the windows down.

Brenda’s remarkable journey began and ended in Newark; the city she loved and served diligently, where she lived, laughed, loved, and where she took her final breath surrounded by those she loved. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Katie Anderson and Earl Flora. She leaves behind her treasured children, Shawn and Jazmine, her loving husband, William Gourdine, her beloved siblings, brother Gary Anderson, twin sisters Yvonne and Shovine, and cherished nieces and nephews: Brenda, Corey, Linda, Trylan, Lil Gary, Tasheem, David and Jasmine.

Let her legacy be a reminder to embrace life with humor, faith and love.

She was born to be an angel.