Brenda Ellen Cole Horton, age 72, of Bristol, Virginia, passed away Monday, January 16, 2023 in Bristol, Tennessee.

She was born in Richlands, Virginia and was the daughter of the late Foyster Lee Cole and Nancy Saunders Cole.

How do you capture the meanings and nuances of moments that have happened over and over, but suddenly disappear forever?

Our minds have been racing through the years of momentous events that were not significant enough to write down but was the real-life embodiment of what it was to experience sacrificial love!

The person who wiped our feverish brow, powdered our chicken pox, taught us to read, and led us to the Lord! Yes, we know someone who shared those moments with us. This person believed in us, corrected us, and prayed for us! We know about love!

She showed us how to have a servant's heart. She taught school for fifty-two years, including Garden Creek Elementary, Whitewood Elementary, Richlands Tabernacle Christian Academy, and Faith Academy. She taught for forty-six years as a Christian school Principal and Teacher. In her years as a Christian educator, she refused to take a payday! It was her calling. She gave of herself! She said, "I'll get my reward over there".

This woman lived multiple roles and gave her all in each. She was a wife, mother, nana, pastor's wife, Sunday School Teacher, tutor, daughter and sister-in-law, friend, church musician, and aunt. She visited the sick, elderly and grieving always with several dishes of food in hand.

She learned to fix Momaw Horton's turkey dressing. She learned how to fix seafood gumbo from Sis. Bridges. She provided countless meals in her home for preachers, family, and passersby!

She grew up in Whitewood, VA (class of '68) and graduated from ETSU (class of 71). She was married to her beloved for 54 years.

She loved the beach and the sounds of the ocean! She loved to travel! She played the piano, organ, clarinet, and her beloved accordion. She knew more gospel songs than most people have even heard. She sang with her family, solo, in choirs, and with strangers.

She was a twin! She loved to talk! She loved to tell stories of the days when she was young. She loved to read. Pets were such a joy! She loved the Lord. She was confident and reassured that her salvation was real. Her passion was for people to know her Savior!

How can we capture who this person was in just a few short sentences? How can you explain true love? You can't! It can only be experienced, felt down deep inside, savored, enjoyed, appreciated, but it can never be explained! When you experience love like this, you are changed, challenged, ....... blessed!

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Linda Jeanette Cole and daughter in law, Jennifer Horton.

Survivors are: Her Husband of 54 Years: Rev. David S. Horton; Daughters: Tonya Switzer and husband, Rev. Michael of Abingdon, Virginia, Hannah Birdsong and husband, Rev. Devin of Purcell, Oklahoma; Son: Rev. David Lee Horton of Richlands, Virginia; Grandchildren: Stacey Horton, Sydney Horton, Britton Birdsong, Brooks Birdsong, Bryce Birdsong, and Addyson Birdsong.

Funeral services for Brenda Horton will be conducted Friday, January 20, 2023 at 1pm at the Richlands Tabernacle, 2505 Third Street, Richlands, Virginia with the Rev. John Gabbard, Rev. Neil Bridges, and Rev. James Horton officiating. Entombment will follow at Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Virginia. Pallbearers will be: Britton Birdsong, Brooks Birdsong, Bryce Birdsong, Rev. Ronnie Wheeler, Rev. Johnny Rex Ward, and Rev. Randy Webb. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of the Grace Tabernacle.

Friends may call from 5pm until 9pm on Thursday night at the Richlands Tabernacle.

Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com