One of four siblings, they had fun with community sports, scouts, dance lessons and a neighborhood pool. She played softball, basketball and ran track, even winning the running high jump state title one year. Brenda became curious about languages from visits with an aunt who was German. She slowly learned bits and pieces of the language and even remembers buying her first Frommer’s Travel Guide at a Five and Dime store in her teens just to daydream about traveling.

Brenda’s family had a summer home on Lake Moultrie, which is where she met her future husband, Gene Hood, at Bonneau Beach. He had just finished two years at Wingate College and was transferring to the University of South Carolina. Before he could do so, however, he was drafted and spent a year in Korea instead. He returned to finish his undergraduate work at the University of South Carolina while she finished at Columbia College.

A dedicated student, she insisted that they wait until she had graduated college before they got married. After they married, Brenda took a job teaching English and German I and II at one of the Columbia high schools. She organized an international fair with the other foreign language teachers, which further whetted her appetite to travel. After Gene passed the SC Bar in 1973, Brenda researched the newly created US Army Judge Advocates (JAG) Corps. She convinced Gene to join, because in addition to his gaining valuable courtroom experience, they could choose his first assignment anywhere in the world (where there was an Army base). The couple chose Würzburg, a university city in Bavaria. They had two children, Heath, and Allyson. Brenda enjoyed free University, touring castles in the city, and living in the village. She was also fully immersed in the German language. She was in Frommer dreamland.

When it was time to return stateside four years later, they settled in Charlottesville, VA. Brenda secured a job with the Chamber of Commerce as their first PR Manager. Gene decided he was going to make a career out of military law, so it meant they would often relocate. Brenda was happy with that. She wanted to see the country. They then moved to Colorado Springs, where she worked as a PR Manager for a school district. The next stop was Killeen, Texas, where Brenda became the Director of Marketing and Development at a local hospital. It was the mid-1980s, and she and the President of the hospital shared a secretary who had one of only two computers in the hospital.

“I felt privileged,” she jokes.

While in Texas, Gene was assigned another tour in Korea. Brenda stayed so not to disturb the children’s academic and sports calendars. “I developed a new respect for single mothers,” she explains as she juggled working full time and shuttling trips from school to piano lessons, judo and baseball or soccer practice — all eating fast food meals in between. Brenda was elated to learn that the Korean Government partially underwrote a trip for Officer’s spouses to visit. It was her first trip to East Asia! Brenda and Gene traveled from Seoul, South Korea to Bangkok and Hong Kong.

“It was the trip of a lifetime and further instilled the vagabond in me.”

When Gene got orders for a second tour in Germany, Brenda said, “We’re coming!” They moved to Landstuhl, and Brenda taught weekly classes called, Surviving German, at the teen center. She taught her children to watch and learn how things were done differently…how to greet people for instance, or how to eat, or how and when to speak to strangers. As a result, they learned to appreciate new customs and patterns. They had planned to give the kids Eurail passes upon graduation, but they returned to the States before that happened.

Their last duty assignment was at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Gene served as Staff Judge Advocate under General Colin Powell. Brenda became the Marketing/Communications Director for the Cobb County Government. They were there four years; Gene retired in 1992 after serving 21 years in the Army. The couple decided that one spouse would follow if the other found a job first. While on vacation in Hilton Head, Brenda happened to look in the want ads and saw an opening for a defense attorney for what was then called the Beaufort County Public Defender Corporation. Gene accepted their offer, and a year later became the Chief Public Defender for the Corporation and later for the entire 14th Judicial Circuit, the largest district in the State.

Beaufort became their home, and the community embraced them. After holding several different positions in the community, Brenda decided to try something different. While in Europe, she and Gene had loved going to the flea markets and renovating their “finds.” Brenda developed an appreciation for antiques and restoration and had always wanted to open a store. Serendipitously, she found a giant warehouse sale in Savannah. They were auctioning off doors, mantles, civil war memorabilia and more. She bought all she could and opened Legacy and Whimsey on Carteret Street. She and Robbie DeLoach often went to market together, and Brenda bought decorative accents to augment antique sales. Gene often refinished or repaired furniture. “It was hidden gem, and all of the locals loved it.”

A few years later, lured by a promise of better visibility, she moved to Port Republic Street. Two weeks after she moved in, however, the City of Beaufort started their two-year streetscape project. Getting to her shop was difficult, even for her. When her lease was finally set to renew, Brenda prudently made a bold move. Why pay rent when she could own? She bought a cottage to house her antiques shop and purchased the adjacent 3-unit townhome to establish some of the first short-term rentals in town; and, for good luck, added the vacant corner lot at Pigeon Point Road and Calhoun Street. She successfully reopened Legacy & Whimsey in the cottage and subsequently established a short-term rental business, Magnolia Court Guest Suites, on the property as well.

In 2018, Brenda’s husband passed away after 49 years of marriage. In October 2021, the business savvy Brenda Hood sold the commercial real estate. “I’m ready to travel again,” she says with a resolute smile. While she will maintain her US citizenship, Brenda plans to travel abroad as much as possible. Like the saying goes, “Not all those who wander are lost.” Kudos, Brenda, for having the courage to follow your dreams.