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Brenda Joyce Freels Sewell passed away peacefully Friday, March 5, 2021, at the age of 71.

This will not be a name that most of you will recognize. This event won’t make the newscasts, be Tweeted about, or even mentioned again in print outside of this obituary. She lived an extraordinarily complex yet beautifully normal life. The kind of life that doesn’t get buildings named after you but doesn’t deserve to go by unnoticed as well.

Brenda was a lifelong resident of High Bridge, Kentucky, a pocket of paradise located in southern Jessamine County. This hamlet over the years has produced an extremely large number of poets, painters, a few farmer prophets, some genuine saints, and some downright outlaws. Old timers will even claim a miracle or two took place there, but those have yet to be properly documented. Like any local, Brenda’s heart pumped with the sound of the train tracks and her blood contained a higher than usual concentration of river water, but no amount of money would have ever made her leave. It was home.

Brenda was preceded in passing by her parents, Claude B., and Betty Jean Freels. They taught her the value of hard work, the joy of music, and the simple pleasure found in reading a good book. Betty with her Irish temper and quick wit, and Claude with his calm warmth and poet’s soul, each a part of her.

Brenda leaves behind for now, a grandson, Christian Miller Sewell. Who misses his Granny and doesn’t yet understand what all this really means. And a son, Shawn C. Sewell, who does understand what this means and will miss his Mother every single day. Brenda also leaves behind Darrell Webb, her partner in crime. He brought her the love and security she always needed. He too will miss her greatly. Brenda was lucky enough to also have a daughter not of blood, but of choice, in Tami Tyler East, whose love and support meant the world. Brenda would turn over in her grave (she woulda laughed y’all) if Elise V. Miller were not mentioned. Elise, she was so proud of the woman you’ve become. You were special to her. She could recognize a fellow book lover a mile off.

After High School, Brenda cut her business teeth in the high stakes’ world of 1960s Nicholasville Life Insurance. Quickly rising to the number 2 position in a two-man office. She would leave this rat race to eventually settle into the job she was born for, working alongside her Father in the family business. They would work side by side till his death. After its closure, Brenda would start with and eventually retire from the Jessamine County Fiscal Court. Where she would meet many wonderful and dear friends.

In her free time, Brenda enjoyed checking more books out from the library than she could possibly read, traveling with friends to see her beloved Willie Nelson, a trip now and again to the riverboats where she would feverishly gamble away her firm $25 limit, and practicing her professional antiquing skills hunting for her son’s “inheritance” at every flea market, yard sale and wide place in the road that might have a treasure. In short, (pun intentional) Brenda was a hell of a lot of fun to be around.

Brenda requested that in lieu of flowers, that she unfortunately wouldn’t be around to see, that each person who might read this, go to your local library, and check out a book, call a friend and talk for 3 hours about nothing, go get something good to eat, and most importantly, rescue an old dog. They need saving too.

At 1:00 PM Thursday, March 11, come share your memories of Brenda and your friendship at her Remembrance Service at Hager & Cundiff Funeral Home. Her family greeted friends on Wednesday, March 10, from 4-8 PM at the funeral home. She will be laid to rest beside her parents in Wilmore Cemetery.

The family would like for you to dress as you would when visiting Brenda at home, so casual attire is requested. Her family has lovingly submitted this obituary. Hager & Cundiff Funeral Home values nothing more than the trust and loyalty given to us by the Sewell Family.

According to CDC guidelines, we request masks be worn and social-distancing be practiced in our facility.