Brenda Black White

Brenda Black White, 74, passed away in her home located in Commerce on January 11, 2010.

Brenda was born to Eldon Black and Mae Cameron Black in Baird, Callahan County, Texas, on March 20, 1935. Brenda married Dr. Kenneth Gene White in 1955 in Fort Worth, Texas, and in 1963, they moved to Commerce. Brenda was a renowned poet and very active in folklore associations, participating in annual meetings of the Texas Folklore Society. She authored two books of poetry, Callahan County in 1998 and The Thing About Me in 2007. In addition she was published in Texas in Poetry (A 150 Year Anthology), Texas in Poetry 2, as well as several national magazines. Brenda was also known for her evocative live performances across Texas, Florida, New York, and Virginia. When Brenda performed at Spencertown Academy in Columbia County, New York, Harrison Somers wrote in his review "No one moved or retreated from the web of love she threw over us all. One was unaware of the change from her personal dialogue with the audience and the poetry. The blend from one form to the other was so intricate; her needlework was a tapestry of finely spun gold and silver." In addition to her own work, Brenda also championed other folklorists and poets and provided a prize for poetry through Texas A&M University-Commerce. She helped to organize the Centennial Celebration commemorating the birth of William A. Owens, author and folklorist who was born in Lamar County. In her early years in Commerce, her focus was on painting, and her work is known in the area must notably for her love of trees and sky. Brenda is survived by her children, Leland C. White of Commerce; Karen Story White Levy of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Christopher Cameron White of Commerce; two brothers: Marlon Black and Curtis Black; a sister; Connie Skaggs; her grandchildren, Amber White, Becket Levy, Zachariah Levy, and Taylor White; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and a sister, Bobby Andrews.

Visitation will be held at Jones-Walker and Son Funeral Home on Friday, January 15, 2010 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Services will be held on Saturday, January 16, 2010, at the First United Methodist Church at 11:30 am. There will be a private burial to be attended by the family.

Honorary pallbearers are Terry Skaggs, Zack Levy, Becket Levy, Jim Peek, Terry Rand, John Jay Conrad, Kevin Rand, and Larry Harris.