BRENDA F HARRIS CAPPS

Brenda Fay Harris – Capps was born December 23, 1961 to Willie and Vergia Mae Harris in Chicago Heights, Illinois.  Brenda attended elementary through high school in Chicago Heights, graduating from Bloom Township High School in 1979.  She went on to receive a pharmacy tech certification from Everest College as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Governors State University.  Brenda held various jobs and positions throughout her life.  In more recent years, she briefly worked as a pharmacy technician for Walgreens before going to work for the Elisabeth Ludeman Center. She was passionate about her work at ELC. She began as a technician but worked her way up to become a Habitational Program Coordinator (HPC).  She raved about her ELC family and loved her individuals. 

Brenda accepted Christ at an early age.  She was a firm believer and strong in her faith.  She was a member of St. Bethel Missionary Baptist church under the leadership of Pastor Lawrence J. Blackful Jr.  After 8 years of courtship, on June 25, 2011, she was united in holy matrimony to Randall Capps.  They were inseparable. Throughout their 17 years together, nothing but beautiful memories were made.  The two of them enjoyed doing many things together and Brenda made sure to capture every moment with her camera. One of the favorite activities to do together was karaoke- that is indeed how they first met. They also enjoyed traveling all over the United States together and made it a point to go to Mississippi at least once a year.  They loved entertaining friends and family at their home as well.

Brenda was a wonderful mother and instilled many important life lessons and values. Family, faith, and education were extremely important to her and she impressed this upon her children. “If you don’t do anything else, you’re gonna give me a high school diploma” was something she repeated to her children as they were growing up. Her children referred to her as ‘Our Mama’, as it was important to her that they stay close and knew that she was theirs equally.  She gave and commanded respect and ensured her children did the same.  Brenda loved a clean house and all her children knew Sam Cook’s albums by the age of 7, as they were on repeat as they performed deep cleaning for the spring and fall. She loved to cook and feed her family.  Her jerk chicken, greens, caramel cake, and Thanksgiving turkey… otherwise known as the ‘drunk turkey’ were amongst some of her favorite dishes loved by them all. 

To know Brenda was to know that her grandchildren were her world.  She was their “Fanny”, a name initiated by the oldest grandchild. She was truly devoted to her grandchildren and loved spending time with them.  She loved bringing them all together for any and every occasion, especially the holidays. She made sure that “Fanny’s babies” always had enough to eat and were having fun. They loved her pecan and pumpkin pie and she made sure they went home with several during the holidays.  She loved having her grandchildren over to swim, watch movies, bake cookies, play the Wii and teach her all the new dance moves.

Brenda loved life and lived it to its fullest.  Some of her favorite hobbies included going to bingo (always referred to as ‘her second job’), walking, watching movies, reading, singing, dancing.  She even DJ’ed here and there and was known as DJ Fay. Brenda enjoyed volunteering with various local social clubs and non-profit organizations.  She was a constant fixture at the annual Chicago Heights reunion picnic where her and Randy would serve food.  She also loved to volunteer for her best friend’s non-profit ‘One Thumbs Up’. 

Brenda loved to make those around her feel loved and welcomed regardless the environment. She was friendly to all and would lend you a smile if you needed one. Her smile could light up any room and her laugh could be heard for miles.

Brenda was preceded in death by her father Willie Harris, her siblings Roosevelt, Ethel Mae, Michael, Willie Mae and her best friend Dawn. 

Brenda transitioned on November 19th, 2020 and leaves to cherish her memory: her husband Randall Capps; her children, Naketa (Anthony), Natalie, Nadia, Nyles, Nakahlya and Francesca; two bonus daughters; Donna (John) and Jennifer; her grandchildren; A’shaun, Nicole, Tunde, Najee, Nia, Zaria, Taniyah, Da’Jahana, Natasia, Nyelle, John Jr., Anthony, Isabella, Maxwell and Sebastian; great grandson- Leonel; her mother; Vergia Mae Harris; her siblings; Carol, Ollie, Gloria, Annette, Terry (Carol), Reginald, Leslie, and Marie; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  

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