Brenda Carol Bond Farris was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Rowan and Elizabeth Smith Bond. She was the youngest of two children and spent her formative years in Wiggins, Mississippi. From the time she was a girl, Brenda was active in the community and her church. She was a kind, compassionate person who focused her energies on doing what was right for other people, and did everything within her power to make those around her feel comfortable. Her heart was open to all; she loved people.
When Brenda was in grade school, her family moved to Verona. She attended Verona Junior High and then transferred to Shannon High School. While still in high school, she met a young man named Riley Farris who won her heart. The young couple wed on June 19, 1971, following Brenda’s graduation in May of the same year. The couple made their home in Ballardsville at Farris Farm where they would have soon celebrated forty-five happy years.
After being married for five years, Brenda and Riley welcomed a daughter, Carol, to the world. When her grandson Gage Farris arrived in 2010, her heart was full. Being Gram to Gage, and sharing their daily afternoon adventures brought her the greatest joy and comfort during her later years.
Brenda worked within the home for eleven years following the birth of her daughter and returned to the workforce where her life in North Mississippi began – Verona Junior High. Brenda worked as an aide at the school for more than eighteen years until illness forced her into an early retirement. Brenda loved working at the school and found great enjoyment in sharing a portion of heart with children through her love of reading.
In her free time, Brenda enjoyed baking, quilting, and traveling. She was a member of the Gloster Street Church of Christ. She lived a life of service to others.
Brenda’s heart was no longer strong enough to support her and she left this world on Tuesday, May 31st in the comfort of her home surrounded by family. A celebration of life service will be held at 11:30 AM Thursday, June 2, 2016 at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with Nathan Henton and Minister Chad Ramsey officiating. A burial service will follow in Walton Cemetery. Visitation is from 5PM to 8PM today and from 10 AM-service time on Thursday, all at Holland-Tupelo Chapel, which is honored to be serving the family.
Survivors include her husband: Riley Farris; daughter: Carol Farris Upton (Michael); grandson: Gage Farris Upton all of Ballardsville; her sister-in-love, Nannette Nelson (Larry); four special nieces and nephews – Lauren Bond Howell (Abbie) of Woodbury, Tennessee; Jason Bond (Jennifer) of Santa Rosa, California; Jessica Bynum (Michael) of Mooreville and Dustin Green (Jada) of Fulton; one great nephew, Barrett Bond, and three great-nieces: Jaylynn Green, Mikayla Bynum and Willow Green. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Randy Bond, and a beloved nephew Xavier “XaXa” Staples.
Pallbearers will be Royce Bond, Ben Bond, Corey Ellis, Franky Lindsey, Dustin Green and Jason Bond. Honorary Pallbearers are Danny “Tige” Lantrip, Teresa Stanford, Terry Moore, Marty Holloway, Julian Cook, Gary Cook, Derek Russell, Dwayne Ellis, and the family of Merit Health Gilmore Memorial.
