Brenda White

Brenda Sue White was born June 22, 1952, to the late Jesse Harris, Sr., and Daisy Harris in Waco, Texas.

She was a lifelong, faithful servant of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church until she transferred her membership to One Fellowship United Methodist Church (due to the merger of Mt. Zion and Bracks). She loved the Lord; her life exemplified Matthew 5:16 “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” She worked on the finance committee, planning committees, and provided resolutions. Mrs. White also loved to find positive messages for the church marquee and she delivered weekly announcements.

Brenda graduated from Carver High School in 1970. She chose education as her profession and retired with 28 years of service from the Waco Independent School District. During her time with Waco ISD, she worked on the G.L. Wiley Middle School, Brazos Middle School, and Challenge Academy campuses as an administrative assistant and parent campus liaison. Mrs. White never met a stranger and she was kind to all. 

Brenda loved being a mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, cousin, and friend. She valued education and a good work ethic; she worked tirelessly to take care of her children. After she retired from Waco ISD, she lovingly joked that she went to work for her daughter. “Granny” got up each morning at 6 am to take her three granddaughters to each of their schools and cooked dinner for them each afternoon. She cherished her family. Brenda called each of her sisters to wish them a good morning every day. She never missed a moment to host a family gathering.

Brenda Sue White passed away in the late afternoon of January 17, 2022, at age 69, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was diagnosed in 2016 with a grave prognosis. Doctors said that she wouldn't make it past three months but they did not know Mrs. White. Brenda Sue was the picture of positivity. She had the uncanny ability to touch lives in fleeting moments. Her warm smile and genuine greeting had a warmth that would engulf people’s hearts with love and kindness. When people spoke of Mrs. Brenda, they’d say, “Oh Mrs. White! She's so sweet!” 

Brenda used this God-given gift to arm herself with the strength to navigate through five additional years of quality life. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, James White; father, Jesse Harris Sr., mother, Daisy Harris; sister Lavonia Harris, and brothers Jesse Jr. and Henry Harris. 

She leaves to cherish her memory: son, Raymond Batts (Aurea) of Austin, Texas; daughter, Thia Allen of Waco, Texas; three grandchildren, Brooke, Meghan, and Rachel Allen; two sisters, Minnie Williams, Linda McCarty; one brother: Richard Harris (Mary) of Waco, Texas; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives and friends.

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