Brenda Needham, 78 of Brooksville, Florida passed away peacefully after a long battle in the hospital April 23, 2025. 

She was born on October 3, 1946 in Rockingham, North Carolina. 

She went to Jefferson High School. Brenda grew up in Tampa, Florida until moving to Pasco, Florida. Brenda lived there until January of 2025 and moved to Brooksville, Florida to be closer to her son and grandkids. Brenda loved to spend time with her kids and grandkids as much as she could. Brenda was a very loving, vibrant, funny, outspoken mom to many even people who were not her own and her family was everything to her. Brenda could make you smile with a joke or a simple laugh without even trying. Brenda loved her iced coffee every morning and couldn’t go without it. 

Brenda is survived by her daughter Carmen Fajardo of CoCo Fl, and her kids Selena Bracero, Amanda Bracero, Stephanie Bracero and Emily Fajardo and 13 great grandchildren. Anthony Hooks and his wife Michelle Webb of Brooksville Fl, and there 3 kids Faith Hooks, Carson Hooks and Gracie Hooks. Marsha Hemby of Brooksville Fl, and her 3 kids Brittany Macduffee Steven King and his wife Sandra King and there 3 kids Zaiden King, Jonathan King, Dioni King and Dale Hemby.

Brenda was preceded in death by: her mother-Edith Chaison; brother-Clayton Thomas Smith; bother- William Hemby; her son- Steven Lewis Hooks.

Brenda always made her family laugh and had some really funny moments with her kids and grandkids: 

Brittany: Grandma used to tell me that if I continued to grid my teeth at night I won’t have any when I get older how am I supposed to chew my food?

Carmen Fajardo (Sissy)-

My mom was the best we talked everyday she knew how to make me laugh when I was upset she could make a mean pot of chicken and dumplings and every time she would try to get me to make it I would mess it up and say lady I don’t know how to make it like you and we would both start laughing and she would saying Sissy it’s easy I miss her so much.

Anthony: My mom was the most beautiful woman she taught me how to treat a lady, how to be a man and how to never give up! My mom did it alone she was my mom and my dad and she was the best of both worlds. She struggled and worked hard but made sure me and my sisters never went without and had what we wanted and needed. She was the rock that held my family together! She never gave up and she fought till the very end! I love you mom!

My mom always had jokes though! My mom always scared me when I ate anything that had seeds like watermelon that it would grow in my stomach!

Money doesn’t grow on trees if it did I would be rich!

Amanda:

Brenda was such an outspoken proud beautiful woman. She always had her routine of waking up and putting on her face is what she called her makeup. Brenda never liked to do much in the morning until she got that first cup of coffee in her system which I don’t blame her I think it runs in the family. She would chew someone’s head off for a cup, she use to say if it’s not burning her taste buds it’s not hot enough. Brenda had such a big heart. She was there for everyone, even those she barely knew. Brenda was the backbone, the happiness, and the glue that held this family together.

Emily:

One thing about Grandma Brenda is that she loves and I mean loves her TV shows. Family Feud, Golden Girls, Reba, Andy Griffith Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, Cheaters and so much more. Everyone at one point watched TV with her since it's her thing. Drinking coffee, eating lots of food and having a good laugh with her shows. Watching those shows is never going to be the same but I'll do it for her. I love you, Grandma. <3

Selena:

Selena: When me and grandma talked we would laugh for hours we both liked old shows to. We would be talking and watching shows at the same time.

Stephanie: Grandma knew I was pregnant before we all did she knew everything about us before we even told her that’s the part that made her special.

Marsha:

All of my memories with you were funny! It's so hard to pick the funniest! I loved cutting up and making you laugh till you cried and then you always know what happened then ......a change of clothes for both of us!!!!!!! Some of my funniest memories involved catching you off guard with the things I would say!!!! And we definitely loved venting to each other about everything and then talking smack about whoever we were venting about. We never had answers for each other but both felt better afterwards and end up laughing at the end!!! I love you mom more than words could ever explain. You were my best friend through everything. You finally have your happily ever after with dad.....you deserve that and so much more. Till we meet again I love and miss you so much ❤️

Michelle:

I only knew Brenda for a short 6 years I wish It was longer! In the 6 years I found just how beautiful, wonderful, kind and vibrant you truly were! From helping raise 2 of your grandkids until we were stable enough to take them back to you always calling us just to hear our voices to know we were ok! Even when things got hard for us! Through you I learned what love for your children really means! I learned how to laugh at the simplest things! And just how proud you were of your son! I never went a day without you telling me how proud of him you were and how proud you were of him finding me! You always knew how to light up a room with your smile and hard to resist smiling with you! You always made a joke! When I got pregnant with my daughter you always knew before I did and kept telling me I was, no I would say not true! And then found out I was having my daughter you were over the moon! You will be truly missed we love you and when the time comes we will all be dancing again together!