BRENDA HAZEL MARIE BALLOU DABNEY

MARCH 29, 1943 – APRIL 22, 2023

“SHE UNDERSTOOD HER ASSIGNMENT”

“She always made sure to instill in us our African American pride. And her mother, my grandmother, was half-Mexican and half-Black, so we grew up with Mexican food and traditions in the house. [She had] deep, Catholic faith. She understood her assignment here on Earth; she embodied love, light, forgiveness, and empathy. And she’d talk to anyone, it didn’t matter who. People were attracted to her spirit. She knew everyone; she put people together.”– Darlene Rencher, Brenda’s daughter from Wayne, PA “Brenda is an original New Mexican. She’s not a transplant from anyplace. Her family, they were homesteaders. She was short in stature but her faithfilled life was like an astonishing nova. She helped sponsor the first public Kwanzaa celebration in Albuquerque which continued over 20 years. [In her youth,] she played basketball, volleyball, and softball. She was a night owl and had a long, sharp memory for details. She was late to the party and late to leave. Our friendship bonded through the years with our family, children, friends, profession, church, sorority, and community.” – Geraldine Harge, Ed.D., AACC scholarship chair & Delta Sigma Theta soror

“I used to call her my little sister. When she started the AACC, MLK’s birthday was coming up and the Archdiocese wasn’t doing anything. Brenda went to Archbishop Robert Sanchez and got permission to have a Mass at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. The church was full; it was a glorious celebration.” – Ms. Louise Davis, AACC liturgist & choir director