Alfred Addington Alexander Brennen was born November 15, 1929 to James and Agnes Brennen on the Island of New Providence. During his formative years, he assisted his father and mother in their bakery. He attended school and obtained up to a sixth grade education. After many years of working along with many individuals in the community of Grant’s Town, he took up a trade and learned masonry. As a young man he traveled to many islands to work as a trained mason. One of the projects he was fondly proud of working on was the Princess Margaret Hospital. He often pointed out the decorative masonry art work at its front entrance. Upon completion of the building of the hospital, he was chosen as one of the guides to escort Princess Margaret to view the building named after her. He also completed many projects at Doctors Hospital (then known as The Rassin Hospital). Alfred always aspired to be the best that he could be. With limited educational opportunities in his childhood, he embraced the opportunity to advance his skills and attended the Nassau Technical Institute. There he learned draftsmanship and carpentry skills. Eventually he obtained his contractor’s license and began building homes throughout The Bahamas. Alfred Brennen was one of the most respected building contractors in The Bahamas. His buildings do not crack or fall apart. He would be called by local banks to repair or sort out poorly built homes and would do miracles each time.

 

His skills of making mouldings with lime and white cement were also remarkable. In 1978 Alfred Brennen was hired as a housing inspector at the Ministry of Housing. After several years, his hard work and commitment earned him the promotion to chief housing inspector. Under his tenure, he supervised the construction of affordable homes offered through the Ministry of Housing, such as Elizabeth Estates, Flamingo Gardens, and others. He remained with the Ministry of Housing until 1994. After his retirement from public service, he resumed his private construction company and continued designing and drawing home plans, repairing, and building. Paramount to his many accomplishments in his journey was meeting the love of his life. The words in a card given to his darling wife before her demise truly depicts his sentiments: “All I know of love is that it begins and ends with you.” This was our family “Love Story,” one that he loved to share around the dining table. It was at the Silver Slipper that he did espy his wife of 63 years; and to hear him tell it, he walked in the door as Freddie Munnings band was playing, scanned the dance floor and noticed an exquisite lady, a good dancer. He observed her until the band stopped, noticed where she sat, and followed up to the upper balcony, and from behind her he asked for the next dance. At first Mary refused until she turned around and noticed who had asked her and accepted his hand to dance, and they danced until the last number before midnight on that Christmas Eve as the band played, “On a Slow Boat to China,” and the rest is history.

 

To digress briefly, the lyrics are: “I’d love to get you on a Slow Boat to China, All to myself alone. Get you and keep you in my arms evermore, Leave all your lovers, Weeping on a faraway shore. Out on the briny, With the moon big and shiny, Melting your heart of stone, I’d love to get you on a Slow Boat to China, All to myself alone.” (Frank Loesser, circa 1940’s). It was their song. How romantic! July 18, 1951, at Ebenezer Methodist Church, Shirley Street, Reverend Lovelock joined Alfred Addington Alexander Brennen (a construction worker, now a building contractor) and Mary Elizabeth Catalyn in holy matrimony. Alfred was very supportive of his wife throughout the years, in her quest for excellence. He told us often of carrying our mother’s teaching load many days on his bicycle, as they did not own a motor vehicle during the early years of marriage. In December of 1951, Mary and her husband Alfred were baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist faith following a series of Bible studies. Other persons baptized along with them were Pastor Hugh A. Roach and Mrs. Mable Mason. They worshipped at Grant’s Town Seventh-day Church, where he became an active and formidable member. From the moment Alfred converted to Seventh-day Adventism, he became very active in almost every branch of the church. He became a Sabbath School teacher, sang in the choir under the directorship of the late Eugene Ferment and A. Leon Roach, qualified himself as a Pathfinder and Masterguide, and so much more.

 

Through these training opportunities and consistent active participation, it was not long because of his commitment and dedication that eventually he was elected to leadership positions in the Grant’s Town church: Pathfinder director, choir director, treasurer, elder, Personal Ministries leader, and Adventist Men’s leader. As a Pathfinder director, he encouraged all the children and youth to join and actively participate. Working along with Bertram Sears, Olive Walks, Lillian Forbes, and others, many young persons from Grant’s Town Church, skills in craft, star study, swimming, camping, and survival skills were honed. His greatest love was swimming and star gazing. Alfred Brennen was known as one of the most popular masters of ceremony for dozens of weddings. If you wanted a great host, you chose Alfred Brennen. Music was the lifeblood of Alfred Brennen and his family. He ensured that all of his children went to music lessons: Claudia and Barrington to George Moxey and Eric Russell and Judith and Ann to Audrey Wright.

 

He was always excited when we entered the music competitions. Additionally, we were escorted to many concerts by international performers, such as the Vienna Boys Choir, Harlem Boys Choir, and the bi-annual concert of the English Chamber Orchestra, and many others. Our home was always filled with music, playing records with voices of Mahalia Jackson, Leslie Uggums, The Kings Herald, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Brad & Olive Braley, and Pastor T. Marshall Kelly. Many of these records remain in our archives today. It was through gospel concerts organized by him, featuring his children, The Brennen Sisters and Barrington, and other guests such as Gwen McDiggen and The Visionaires that he afforded to send his children to West Indies College to receive the educational opportunities that were not available to him.

 

Alfred Brennen’s skills were not only used in the community; rather, it was with joy that he offered his services for more than 60 years to his church in many ways. One in particular was that of assisting the Conference with the site plans and preparing for the pitching of tents for crusades throughout the island. It was during the first quarter of 1967 that Elder Brennen designed and got approved plans for the building of the Eight Mile Rock Church in Grand Bahama. He was designated as the chief builder in the inception, and the project was later completed by Pastor N.E. Scavella. During that time period, he was instrumental and active in the work of the Conference with many other projects. In recent years, he designed and obtained approved plans for a $500,000 edifice for the Parkgate Church. After serving at the Grant’s Town Church for 40 years, Alfred and his wife Mary accepted the call, along with Stanley and Ruby Major, to become founding/charter members of the Ephesus Seventh-day Church now known as the Parkgate Seventh-day Adventist Church. Their efforts as a team in establishing and nurturing that new congregation are etched into the annals of history. His works in church life and the community are legendary. He worked alongside, hand in hand with his wife of 63 years, more so after they both retired, with the Dorcas group and Community Services providing much needed clothing and other items for the less fortunate.

 

Throughout our parents many years of service, we witnessed their indomitable strength through teamwork, as he and Mary, (whom he lovingly called “Honey,” and Mary in turn called him “Dear”), worked together as a team, always supporting each other in their many undertakings, in the school, church or community. Through his life, many were recipients of his acts of kindness and compassion. Undoubtedly he touched many lives and notable was his daily mantra: “If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain.” Through the years his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren can testify of many who came to the house for food and assistance, even if only for a cup of water, and were never turned away. Alfred Brennen had an expert knowledge of “bush medicine.” He truly believed that “the herbs were for the healing of the nation.” Next to his Bible, quarterly, and devotional books would be his herb books. Often he was called upon to give talks on the value of the herbs of The Bahamas and their uses. He was also known for his famous “bush teas!”

His many awards include:

• • Father of the Year, Grant’s Town Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1988
  • West Indies Union Centennial Award for Faithful Service to the Church and its Mission in The Bahamas, 1990
  • Outstanding and Dedicated Services to the Youth of The Bahamas Conference, Youth Director, Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 1998
  • Call to Excellence Music Ministry Award, for 54 Years of Service to the Ministry, by Eagle Music Ministry Network, 2006
  • 40 Years of Dedicated Christian Service to the Adventist Church by The Bahamas Conference, 2007
  • Music Award for Outstanding Development of the Grant’s Town Church Music Department by Grant’s Town Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2008

Fond memories linger in the hearts and minds of his children as they recall Daddy waking them up when he arrived home some evenings late from his construction work and taking them in their pajamas to get ice cream from BJ’s Ice Cream Parlour, or them packing in the old Chevy station wagon and Dodge Dart and chasing to find fires throughout New Providence. His adventurous spirit and spontaneity brought much life to our home. He also loved table games, and we would sit after dinner as a family many weekends, playing Scrabble, Pit, Egypt to Canaan, Chinese Checkers. He loved and encouraged family togetherness. These traditions continued to the next generation of his grandchildren. His jovial demeanor and wit, mixed with his stern no nonsense manner created balance for his family and by extension to others. Whenever a tent was pitched to proclaim the gospel, he loved so dearly, the evangelist had the assurance of his support as a committed Bible worker. In recent months as his strength wavered, unable to drive any more, grieving the loss of his dear soul mate, he made his final contributions to the Church.

For communion service ending the third quarter in September, he prepared the bread, something he was determined to do without assistance. On Sabbath, November 15, at Grant’s Town 85th Anniversary he sang his final solo, “Until then my heart will go on singing...until that day God calls me home.” Alfred emptied himself in service to God and others, dying six days after experiencing a hemorrhagic stroke. Alfred Addington Alexander Brennen was a loving, committed, and dedicated husband, father, brother-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, cousin, and friend.

Many fond memories of him will linger forever in our hearts. He leaves behind a rich legacy for his loved ones: Children and their Spouses: Claudia and Norman Seymour, Barrington and Annick Brennen, Judith and Winston “Donnie” Edwards, Ann Albury Grandchildren and their Spouses: Vernessa and Ansel Rahming, Keturah and Keith Bryan, Christina and Devaughn Rahming, Marguerite and Leslie Samuel, Gerard and Dana Brennen, Donovan Edwards, Jonathon and Jackie Edwards, Adam Edwards, Keith and Opal Albury, Alden Albury, Brendon and Jennifer Albury Great Grandchildren: Ane, Aneisha, and Lawrence Rahming; Keith, Dauntes, and Ava Bryan; Alexander and Malachi Brennen; Noah Samuel; Penny Edwards; Kady, Zoe and Kaleb Albury, Keith Christian Albury Brothers-in-Law: Peter Catalano II and James J. Catalyn Nieces, Nephews, and Spouses: Derek and Tracey Catalano, Kirk and Maureen Catalano, David and Monique Catalano, Randon Catalyn, Jethro Dixon, Anthony and Gina Pieri, Charles and Mycola Quant Grand Nephews: Christopher and Carlito Catalano, Skye and Sabian Catalano, Deangelo Catalano, Cayden Catalyn, David, Charles, Douglas and Anthony Quant. And many many more.