Brenda Denny

WINSTON SALEM - Brenda Leonard Denny, 79, passed away January 10, 2021 at Forsyth Medical Center.  She was born March 31, 1941 in Forsyth Co. to the late Earlie F. and Rosa Lee Phillips Leonard.  Brenda was a member of the Union Cross Moravian Church.  Her employment included Jones Bakery of Kernersville NC, Forsyth County DSS, Denny Realty Company of King NC, and Sara Lee of Rural Hall NC.  Brenda held a degree from WC in Economics and a broker’s license in real estate.  She was also an entrepreneur having owned her own daycare center and the consignment shop, King’s Ransom, in downtown King.   Her biggest accomplishment however, was tending to her home, caring for her family, and serving as a devoted mother and wife for 18 years before returning to the workforce to eventually retire form Sara Lee.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her late husband, Thomas Dale Pugh and her late husband John Wilson “J.W.” Denny, the father of her daughter.  Surviving are her one daughter Meredith Denny Smith and her husband Brock Jason Smith of King; her brother Charles Leonard and wife Connie of Kernersville; her granddaughter Isabella Rose Smith; her nieces Catherine Jenkins and Charlene Leonard; her great nieces Lillian Boyd and Josie Jenkins; her “self -adopted daughter” Minnie Newman of Charleston SC; and her source of constant companionship and comfort, her cocker spaniel Cameo.  She was a devoted caregiver to many people and to her numerous animals including her beloved cocker spaniel Sandy and her Dalmatians, Missy, Mammy, and Scarlet. A private graveside service will be conducted at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Union Cross Moravian Church graveyard with the Rev. Bob Peterson and the Rev. Don Griffin officiating.   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Union Cross Moravian Church Building Fund, 4295 High Point Rd., Winston Salem, NC 27107, Robinhood Road Baptist Church, 5422 Robinhood Road, Winston Salem, NC 27106, or Novant Health Cancer Institute, FMC Foundation (Memo line: Simstein fund), 1701 S Hawthorne Rd, Winston Salem, NC 27103.  The family would like to extend their gratitude to the many caregivers who participated in caring for Brenda during her illness including Dr. Heather Shearer, Dr. Patty Zekan, her oncology nurse navigators Angie Swaim and Morgan Gable, the staff of 9 West Oncology, and the remarkable nurses in ICU 3.  A special thanks to Carolyn Lawson, retired nurse, who was by her side during her recent months, enabling her to remain independent at home with her beloved fur baby Cameo.  Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.Hayworth-Miller.com