Brenda Sue McClendon Thomas 11/19/1953 – 07/13/2026

Brenda wore many hats throughout her life. First and foremost, she was a devoted mother to her two children, Elizabeth and Bill Freeman. She was also a gifted teacher by nature and vocation, a good friend and big sister, a wise mentor,and supportive co-worker and a well-loved cousin and aunt. Her bright smile and enthusiasm for life lit up every room she entered and everyone she encountered would clearly recognize her as the epitome of a Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood kind and loving neighbor.

Brenda was born in Dallas, TX to Revia Nell Sessions McClendon and William Joseph McClendon. After one short year, her family whisked her away to the woods of El Dorado, Arkansas, but the heart of Texas was already deeply embedded in her soul. From there the family moved to the very unfamiliar suburbs of NYC in Stamford, CT. The next move carried the family to New Orleans where the now teenage Brenda fell in love with this city, its Cajun food and its celebration of life. She accumulated an amazing group of lifelong friends at Benjamin Franklin High School who will fondly remember her as Chip McClendon, half of the inseparable Chip and Tootles fun-loving pair of best friends. Starting way back in high school, Brenda would lean on her favorite movie character of Scarlett O’Hara whenever things got tough declaring “well, tomorrow is another day!” When it came time to choose a college, Brenda’s heart took her back to her roots in Texas, allowing her to strengthen her ties with her extended McClendon and Sessions family. At Texas Christian University, Brenda was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, received a Bachelor of Arts degree, and began her journey as a life-long, hard-core Horned Frog.

After graduation from TCU, Brenda proved to be a Texan, through and through,never moving from the Lone Star State again. She remained in Ft. Worth working in a variety of positions for Tandy Corporation. Although the manufacturing plant was eventually closed, her loyalty and invaluable contributions found her still working there as the employee count fell from thousands down to the last 34 standing.

Shortly after the plant closed, Brenda moved to Denton, Texas. She took advantage of the alternative certification program and embarked on a new career as a Kindergarten to 2nd grade teacher. Teaching had always been a part of Brenda’s life: as a big sister, a sorority pledge trainer, a corporate educator, a mother and a Sunday school teacher. She now focused her zest, creativity and love into something she was truly designed to do - igniting the love of learning in young minds and molding young hearts into loving, caring souls. The Denton Independent School District classrooms became her playground. Her brilliant smile, sunny disposition and the “joie de vivre” she carried from her days in New Orleans combined to make her a captivating force in the classroom. Like many teachers, she had a storage locker full of “extras” for her classroom because she knew it took more than a curriculum to engage young children in learning. Beyond her own classroom, Brenda mentored many a new teacher and built an incredibly strong cadre of grade-level teams. Brenda stood out as “that one special teacher” who students return to visit each year, even as they graduated from high school. Although Brenda retired after more than 20 years of teaching,she was still inspiring young minds in the Gainesville and Denton Independent School Districts as a substitute teacher until late February of 2026.

Brenda’s love of teaching was only eclipsed by her love of and devotion to her own 2 children, Elizabeth and Bill Freeman. She was also an ever present companion to her grandson Preston. She truly embraced each of their unique spirits and spent countless hours cheering them on as they moved through life. She enjoyed hosting their friends and worked hard to create a safe space for all of them during the tumultuous teen years. Walking side by side with her children through the challenging roller coaster of adulthood, her home was their safe haven in life’s storms. She always focused on the health and happiness of her children sometimes losing track of her own. Brenda’s home was also always filled with dogs. From the time her parents acquired their first dog when she was a toddler, Brenda’s home was filled with the unconditional love that dogs share with us. Over the course of her lifetime, she had more than 13 dogs. She rescued many an old dog with health and vision problems that just needed a loving home for their few remaining years. She usually had 2-3 snuggling up on the sofa with her while watching those TCU football games.

After a brave and well fought battle with cancer, Brenda passed peacefully at home 7/13/2026 at home with her dogs and her son Bill at her bedside with support from Home Hospice of Cooke County.

Brenda is survived by her 2 children Mary Elizabeth Freeman and William Bradford Freeman as well as her 2 sisters Beverly McClendon and Sarah Stokes.

She will also be sorely missed by her nieces, nephews, numerous cousins from both her McClendon and Sessions family lines, coworkers and all who encountered that brilliant smile, mischievous gleam in her eye, and delightful spirit.

Although Brenda requested that no funeral services be held, if you are so inclined,feel free to put on purple clothing or cowboy boots, eat some Cajun food or barbecue, listen to happy, fun music from the late 60’s to late 70’s and wrap yourself in warm memories of this beautiful lady.

If you wish to honor Brenda with a financial donation of some kind, please feel free to donate to the Fred Roger’s Institute in her name: www.fredrogersinstitute.org