Brenda Rene’ Hall McClendon went home to be with the Lord on August 22, 2018. Brenda was born May 19, 1948 in St. Louis, Missouri to Dotson Hall, Jr. and Nettie Gulledge Hall (later, Bayless). Brenda attended Akron public schools and graduated from South High School in 1967. Upon graduation from high school, Brenda worked at Ohio Edison, and was briefly married to Ronald C. McClendon. She earned an associate’s degree in transportation in 1980 and in 1992 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of Akron, and pursued her love of teaching.

Brenda taught at David Hill Elementary in Akron, Ohio and in the Columbus City school district at Columbus Africentric Elementary. Brenda was no ordinary teacher. She embraced her students as her own children and was a loving presence in their lives, even long after they were students in her classroom.

Brenda was fun-loving, gregarious and had a zest for life that was matched only by the joy and light she brought to it. She was a passionate Steelers fan who loved to travel and gather around food, family and friends. There was no one she didn’t enjoy feeding! Her vibrant spirit was well known by all, and will be deeply missed.

Brenda was especially close with her South High graduating class. She was an enthusiastic organizer and participant in class reunion functions and socials. Though she will be deeply missed by the remaining class members of the class of 1967, the memory of her jovial participation lives on.

Brenda confessed her belief in Christ at a young age, and was a devoted member of Macedonia Baptist Church, where she sang soprano in the choir. Brenda was a member of the W.O.W. (Women of the Word) women’s Bible study for several years.

She is preceded in death by mother, Nettie G. Bayless and stepfather, Earnest Bayless.  She leaves to cherish her memory father, Dotson Hall, Jr. of Chicago, IL; sons, Jahmal (Michele) McClendon and Jarreau McClendon; grandsons, Simon and Ellison McClendon, all of Akron, Ohio; sisters, Linda Ferguson of Cleveland, Ohio and Charmayne Richard of Chicago, IL; brothers, Jermayne Richard, Terrance Richard and Dotson Hall III, all of Chicago, IL.; aunts, Dorothy G. Pearson of Akron, Ohio, Margaret Gulledge-Wesley of Columbus, Ohio and Cordelia Gulledge of Akron, Ohio; uncles, Joseph (Edna) Gulledge, Sr. and Theodore DuBose of Akron, Ohio. Brenda also leaves to mourn her passing special young friends she considered her children: Anthony Cook, Emanuel Blackmon, Shawn Clift, India Vance, DaMonique Sonnier and Keyona Bishop, along with a large host of extended family, including cousins, nieces, nephews, as well as a generous circle of loving friends.