Brenda Jean Pendleton of Pine Bluff passed into God's arms Monday, March 21, 2011 at St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock. Brenda was born on July 26, 1954, reared in Arkadelphia, the daughter of Billy Ray and Melva Boyer Bagwell. A graduate of Ouachita Baptist University she was a kindergarten and third grade teacher at Southwood Elementary School in Pine Bluff as well as an advocate and activist for children's literacy. She loved to read, to do needle crafts, scrap booking and she spent much of her spring and summer time tending to her flower garden. Brenda was a member of Watson Chapel Baptist Church, a devoted wife, mother and teacher who will be deeply missed by family, friends and co-workers. She was preceded in death by her father Billy Ray Bagwell. Brenda is survived by her husband David Pendleton of Pine Bluff, one daughter Amy (Marc) Pendleton May and their daughter Cassidy of Las Vegas, NM, two sons Aaron (Leslie) Pendleton and their son Luke of Metairie, LA, and Andrew (Michelle) Pendleton of Benton, AR, her mother Melva Bagwell of Arkadelphia, sister Linda Dempster of Arkadelphia, two nieces Jennifer Mitchell and Kimberly Dempster of Arkadelphia. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, March 24, 2011 at Watson Chapel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff with Pastor Todd Howard and her son Aaron Pendleton officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM Thursday until service time at the church. The family will receive friends at their home from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Wednesday. Interment will be at 4:00 PM Thursday at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Arkadelphia. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Benevolent Fund at Watson Chapel Baptist Church, 5514 Pinnacle Lane, Pine Bluff, AR 71603. Services entrusted to Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia. Visit www.welchfh.net to sign guest book.