Brenda Hardin

Memorial services for Mrs. Brenda Woodford Hardin, age 78, of Nashville formerly of Cookeville, will be Thursday March 5 at 11:00 a.m. at Cookeville First United Methodist Church. Rev. Kevin Conrad will officiate. Her family will receive friends and family Wednesday, March 4th from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. at Hooper, Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home in Cookeville and again Thursday, March 5th from 10 a.m. until time of services at Cookeville First United Methodist. Brenda passed away Sunday, March 1, 2020 at Barton House in Nashville, TN after a long battle with Alzheimer's. She is preceded in death by her husband Charlie Hardin. She was born September 7, 1941 in Livingston, TN to the late James Elmer and Mary Ruth Murphy Woodford. She was also preceded in death by her grandparents, James Sheppard and Lillie Ray Clark Woodford; and Joseph Henry and Mary Lou Murphy. Brenda graduated from Monterey High School in 1959. In high school, she was her class salutatorian, President of the Future Homemakers of America, Editor of the Yearbook, cheerleader, band member, homecoming attendant, Worthy Advisor for Order of Rainbow Girls, Vice President of her class, Vice President of Methodist Youth fellowship, and won a trophy for outstanding salesmanship. She would continue into adulthood enjoying being active in as many things as possible. She attended Stephens College, then an all female school in Missouri, because "it was the farthest place away my parents would let me go." While in college her picture was taken by a reporter kissing her date good night at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. The picture was picked up on the A.P. wire and was published in papers across the country. She received an Associate‘s degree in Arts in 1961 and transferred to the University of Tennessee. While at UT she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority and served as an officer. During that time, she also once turned down a date with actor Burt Reynolds. This was a source of great amusement between her and our father-mainly from her. She chose instead to go on a date with her future husband, Charlie, despite the fact he thought her hometown Monterey was in California instead of Tennessee. Her children and grandchildren are pleased she chose the other handsome man with a moustache. She received a B.A. in English from the University of Tennessee in 1963. She married Charlie Hardin in 1962 during his second year of law school. She served as President of the Tennessee Law Wives while working at the UT library during that time. She lived with her family in Louisville, Kentucky for 18 years before moving to Cookeville in 1984. in Cookeville, she worked for Woodford Motor Company for many years as their bookkeeper. In 1998, at 57-years-old she obtained her Master's in Education from Tennessee Tech. She then taught freshman English as an instructor at Tech for several years. Prior to moving to Nashville, she was a member of the Pathfinder's Class at Cookeville First United Methodist. Brenda loved books and crafts and learning and flowers and old things. She often said she was born in the wrong century. She enjoyed making things with flowers and herbs. Later in life, she took up rug hooking. She would tell anyone who asked that she was a proud "hooker." She loved finding dusty treasures at auctions. She took dulcimer lessons. She owned an old spinning wheel and a gigantic loom. She made things on them. In her 40s she moved an 1830's log cabin from Byrdstown to Cookeville and had it rebuilt as her craft building in the back yard. She surrounded it with period specific herbs and flowers. It was the nicest she-shed you'd ever see. She loved her family above all else. She was feisty in a good way. She credited her grandmother Lillie Ray Woodford and long, idyllic summer days at Camp Monterey in her childhood for shaping the woman she would become. She was selfless and generous of heart. Even as she was subsumed by dementia, she was happy to see family members who came to see her. Her family takes comfort in believing the outgoing and friendly part of her somehow managed to survive when everything else was gone. She is survived by son, Matt (Janet) Hardin, of Nashville, her grandchildren, Henry, Grace and Vivian; son, Travis Hardin of Chattanooga; daughter Kayla Hardin of Nashville, and daughter Mary Carole Irvine (Don)of Martin. She is also survived by her brother in law, Ralph Hardin of Spring Hill; sister in law, Mary Thornton (Clint) of Jay, Oklahoma; and brother, Jim Woodford, of Cookeville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Genesis House in Cookeville: https://genesishouseinc.com/volunteer-and-donate/ Hooper Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111. Share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.