Brenda "Jameelah" Furqan was born June 22, 1941 to Echols Smith and Jeanette Wheat Franklin. She graduated from Wenonah High School and went to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Her LPN training and her passion for the elderly lead to opening her own a residential care home.

Allah blessed Brenda with three children, Tracey, Arthur and Paul Collins. She later married her high school sweetheart, Sharrieff Furqan bringing to their union five children, Alifah, Paul, Cynthia, Bass, and Ibn Furqan. Allah blessed them with 26 years of marriage.

Brenda was preceded in death by her parents, Echols and Jeanette Smith, and three siblings, Echols Jr., Fred, and Francis Smith.

Cherishing Brenda''s memories are her husband Sharrieff; their children, Tracey, Arthur and Paul Collins, Alifah, Paul, Cynthia, Bass, and Ibn Furqan; three siblings, George Irvin Smith (Denise), Regina Crumpton, and Celeste Smith; three brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law; her oldest granddaughter, Nichole, whom she was very close to; 23 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends who loved her and will miss her dearly.