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“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 Brandy Carol McMurry Daniels was born on March 9, 1958, to Beverly Loleta Rhinehart McMurry and William Charles Teasley. Reared in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she found her faith and love for Christ at an early age at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. After graduating from Washington High School in Milwaukee in 1975, she attended the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, where she majored in early childhood education which allowed her to fulfill her lifetime dream of becoming an educator. During her college student days, she became a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated® Lambda Alpha Chapter under the line name of “Jewels.” Her sorority loyalty spanned over 40 years including her most recent affiliation with the Charlotte Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc®. Following college graduation in 1980, Brandy worked at the Milwaukee Inner City Development Project (ICDP), and later at two health care facilities. Her over 30-year teaching career (first grade and kindergarten) included over 14 years Atwater Elementary School in Shorewood, Wisconsin near Milwaukee. During this time Brandy earned a master’s degree from National Louis University in Illinois. She taught 9 years in the gifted and talented program at Villa Heights Elementary in Charlotte, and 11 years at Irwin Academic Center in Charlotte. In 2008 she was named “Teacher of the Year.” For Brandy, teaching was a passion—she had a love for learning and looked forward to sharing that with her students. She strove to make her classroom a safe environment and a place for students to flourish and grow academically and socially. She fostered an open communication line with the parents of her students whom she inspiringly referred to as “Can-Do Kids.” She taught every child to know that they were talented and had the capability to excel in the classroom and in life. She believed in “no child left behind” long before it became a political slogan. Though Brandy was a native of Milwaukee, in her own words, she “loved living in North Carolina”—the native state of her husband, Reuben Daniels. She met Reuben in Milwaukee when, in Reuben’s words, “After our first date, I returned home thinking how wonderful she was and saying to myself, ‘Lord, please don’t let me mess this up.’” The Lord answered that plea when they were married on July 1, 1984, and began their blissful marriage of nearly 40 years during which, Brandy described Reuben as not only her husband but also her “friend” and “king” who made her feel “like a queen.” Their marriage was blessed with three children—Reuben Oliverez Deion Daniels of Fort Valley Georgia, Ryan Charles Daniels who lives in Chicago Illinois; Brittany Olivia L. Daniels Tran who lives in Scotch Plains New Jersey with her husband, Lesly Tran and their daughter Blake Olivia Tran—a precious beautiful granddaughter who filled her grandparent’s lives with boundless joy. Brandy described her hobbies as “always changing.” She “painted bird houses, decorated T-shirts”—and enjoyed “crocheting, knitting, scrapbooking, card making and SHOPPING.” She loved and decorated for every holiday and most especially Christmas. Her passion for Christmas was evident in every room of the house as she made room for up to a dozen Christmas trees of various sizes and themes with gifts for everyone – even the unexpected guest who just stopped by. Her table was always open during the holidays, and nothing pleased her more than sharing joy and love to everyone. “Barbie” shared her birthday, so she collected vintage Barbies and assorted memorabilia during her many travels. Her favorite travel was to the beach and Disney World. At one point, she made a passing attempt to teach herself to play the guitar. When it came to sports, Brandy was an avid dual football fan of the Green Bay Packers and Charlotte Panthers—in that order. Along with her father Charles and stepmother Loretta Teasley, Brandy was predeceased by her sister—Tracy Lavert McMurry and her brother—Orlando “Lonnie” McMurry. Brandy leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Royal companion and Champion Reuben, Mother Beverly, children - Reuben, Ryan and Brittany, granddaughter Blake Olivia and her “special” daughter and granddaughter—Shelly Renee Wilson and Zakiah Ajoi Wiggins; sisters—Venus McMurry Carroll and Marquita Marie Davis (Eric); brother—Jeffrey McMurry; aunt—Danna Louise Rhinehart, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, “adopted” family members and friends. https://raiseyourway.donordrive.com/campaign/Celebrating-the-Life-of-Brandy-Daniels

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Mrs. Brandy Carol Daniels

March 9, 1958 - June 21, 2024