Brenda Esposito, a beacon of kindness, warmth, and Southern hospitality, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2025 at the age of 83. Although she held many titles in life, it was her boundless love for others that truly defined her.
Brenda, or “Perky” as many of her friends and family called her, had a gift for making people feel seen, heard, and valued. Whether through a beautiful smile, a warm embrace, a listening ear, or an encouraging word, she poured her heart into everyone she met. Her home was always open and her table was always welcoming.
She found joy in the simplest things – spending time with loved ones and remembering little details that made people feel special. She believed in people, in second chances, and in the power of kindness to change the world, one small act at a time.
Born on August 1, 1941, in Burlington, North Carolina to Jack and Alice Godwin, Brenda spent her childhood in various towns in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Ohio as her father worked on various construction jobs. Her family ultimately settled in West Palm Beach, Florida; she graduated from Palm Beach High School in 1959. She entered and won the Miss West Palm Beach and Miss South Florida pageants in 1959. In 1960, she married William Ashton Thompson; they had two daughters, Trina and Cindy.
Brenda spent her entire career in the computer industry, starting as a data entry/key-punch operator and ultimately using her programming and interpersonal skills to serve as a computer software consultant.
In 1983, Brenda married Chuck Esposito. During their 41 years of marriage, they shared a deep love for one another, for their family, for our country, for travel and adventure, for photography, for motorcycles, and for entertaining.
When she and Chuck retired to “Terra Espo” the property they had built in Suches, located in the north Georgia mountains, she found new passions – painting and crafting. Brenda co-founded Suches Brushes, a small group of artists who gathered each Monday to paint together. She sold many of her Father Christmas dolls, leaf paintings, and other crafts in local stores.
But more than any other accomplishments, and there were many, Brenda will most be remembered for her graciousness, Southern hospitality, and caregiving. There are very few people who knew Brenda who have not been a guest at her table. Most Sundays, she and Chuck would host their pastor, his wife, and any newcomers to their church for lunch. For 20 years, Brenda, Chuck, and their family hosted Norman Rockwell-esqe Independence Day parties, which were frequently attended by more than 100 guests. One of the highlights of the event was the patriotic skit performed by their grandchildren. When her beloved mother, Alice, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she spent two decades lovingly caring for and providing for all of Alice’s needs. And when Brenda’s beloved husband, Chuck, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2006, she lovingly cared for him until his death last year.
Brenda had been treated for essential thrombocythemia, a form of blood cancer called myeloproliferative neoplasms, for over two decades. She was also a four decade melanoma survivor. In April of 2024, she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She fought with the same beauty, charm, grace, and dignity with which she lived her entire life. She filled every doctor’s office, chemotherapy room, blood transfusion cubicle, and hospital room with unspeakable joy. After going through chemotherapy for seven months with no progress, she opted to discontinue chemo in November, but continued to have weekly blood and platelet transfusions until the end of February, when she entered Hospice Care.
Brenda is survived by her daughter Trina Aker and husband Dave; daughter Cindy Thompson; grandson Nathan Aker and wife Sarah, great granddaughters Sadie, Aubrie and Josie; grandson Ashton Aker; stepdaughter Christy Colato and partner Michael; stepson Ken Esposito and wife Kathy; step grandson Nick Esposito and wife Mel, step great granddaughters Mia & Keira; step granddaughter Christina Esposito and husband John, step-great granddaughters Maeve & Molly and step great grandson Dean; step grandson Mike Esposito and wife Dana; step granddaughter Catie Esposito; and step granddaughter Julia Esposito.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Church at Wellen Park at https://churchatwellenpark.com or The American Cancer Society at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/TrinaAker.