Brenda Gail Standridge Thomas, 78, passed away peacefully at home on August 22, 2023. She was born on March 31, 1945, to Kelley Boyd Standridge and Janie Louvenia Phillips Standridge as their first born. Brenda eloped June 24, 1961, and married Roy Junior Thomas, her best friend and love at the home of Rev. Garland White. They were married 571/2 years before his passing September 27, 2018.
Brenda loved people and never met a stranger. She picked cotton for most of her young life on the family farm in Alto, GA. At twelve years old, she went to work for Finley’s Grocery in Alto to help support her family. Mrs. Finley made sure she had many pretty dresses to wear. Finley’s is where she met the love of her life, Roy. She was very active in her life until a massive stroke put her in her wheelchair “Jazzy” December 19, 2003. At this time, she took on watching TV preachers and her main goal was everyone be saved. John 3:16 being her favorite verse.
She started out as a homemaker and raised their four children. She loved to sew her “masterpieces” during this time for family and the public. Her biggest passion was photography. She bought her first camera in 1959 at the age of 14, which she still has to this day. When the children were all in school, she went to work for The Times of Gainesville as a delivery driver. Her skills with the camera along with her time on the road led her to taking many pictures of the community, wrecks, and interesting items. These pictures were published by the The Times and The Northeast Georgian papers. She went back to school and took classes in photography which led to her buying her own darkroom equipment so that she could take her own pictures then develop them. She called her business “Images by Brenda”. The local law enforcement would use her to photograph crime scenes. All this led to her being promoted to reporter with The Times for many years. She was then offered a position by WNEG-32 TV in Toccoa, GA. She worked for WNEG for many years as a sales representative selling commercials for all of Georgia and South Carolina. When computers first came out, she taught herself to operate and build computers. She was very independent. When her family opened Chattahoochee Contracting building cell phone towers in the 1990’s, she then became their office manager until her stroke in 2003. The stroke changed her life as she knew it forever. She has been wheelchair bound for 20 years now.
Brenda is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Larkin and Viola Faulkner Phillips, paternal grandparents, George Thurmond, and Carrie Evans Standridge; parents, Kelley Boyd and Janie Phillips Standridge; sister and brother-in-law, Mildred Standridge and Howard Ivester; brother, Wayne Standridge.
Surviving are four children and spouses, Danny and Rhonda Thomas, Flintstone, GA; Susan and Donald Wade, Alto, GA; Scott and Amy Thomas, Mt. Airy, GA; Brian and Tawana Thomas, Cornelia, GA; five grandchildren; Brandi and Michael Worsham, Alto, GA; Brent and Noel Wade, Alto, GA, Autumn Rogers, Alto, GA, Nicolas Thomas, Mt. Airy, GA, Danae’ Smith, Cornelia, GA; eight great grandchildren; Serenity Wade, Gage Wade, Abigail Wade, Jordan Herron, Alivia Worsham, Brinley Worsham, Asher Rogers, Jackson Jeeves. Sister; Joyce Standridge Gibbs, Cornelia, GA; brother; Wendell Standridge, SC. Special friend, Elia Leticia Torres, Hidalgo, TX. Sister-in-laws and spouses; Pat and Charles Turpin, Linda and Garnett Smith, all of Lula, GA. Great aunts, Edna Higgins and Mary Alice Bedenbaugh, both of Lincolnton, NC.
Many nieces, nephews, friends. A special thank you to Serenity Wade for all the nights she spent with Nanny since Poppy’s passing. Serenity has entertained her, made her laugh, wiped her tears, held her hand when she needed it from the time you were 12 years old until now at 17. Your love, passion and empathy for Nanny will never be forgotten. You have watched many old shows and even the late-night polka parties with Nanny to keep her happy.
Visitation on August 24, 2023, will be 12:00 p.m. until the beginning of the 2:00 p.m. celebration of life service at Alto CH Church in Alto, GA. Burial will be in Westview Cemetery in Lula, GA. Rev. Donald Wade and Debra Gentry officiating. Flowers may be sent to 143 Bennett Street, Alto, GA where the family is residing.
Pallbearers are Brent Wade, Gage Wade, Jordan Herron, Michael Worsham, Nicolas Thomas, Barry Lewallen.
Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA 30504 is in charge of arrangements.
Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com
