Sarah Frances Wear Brenneman was born August 27, 1919 to Basil Ford Wear, Sr. and Wilma Luna Pickens Wear in Decatur, AL and died on Friday, July 20, 2018. At the death of her mother, Sarah was raised by her aunt and Uncle Tom Wear and Ethel Pickens Wear. She attended Florence State Teachers college where she met her future husband, Ben Brenneman.
Mrs. Brenneman was a long time active member of Sheffield First Baptist Church and an example of a true believer. She served on many committees at the church, sang in the choir, was a member of WMU and the Willing Workers Sunday School class, and she helped found the Ministry Meal program. Mrs. Brenneman’s main focus throughout her membership was children. She taught children’s Sunday school classes, Vacation Bible School, and Wednesday night programs.
Mrs. Brenneman was not limited to church activities when it came to children. She loved nothing more than to be around children. She opened her own day care in her home in 1954 that eventually became Bud and Sis Kindergarten. This business continued until she began work in the Head Start program in Tuscumbia. When she retired from Head Start she tutored elementary students in reading skills for 15 years at Threadgill School in Sheffield. Her pall is covered with handprints of these students. She was a proud member of DAR and the Arlithom Club.
Mrs. Brenneman was preceded in death by her husband Benjamin Franklin Brenneman, Jr. and her son Benjamin F. Brenneman, III, her sisters Gertrude Wear Free, Pauline Wear Gurley, Ruth Wear, and brother Basil Ford Wear, Jr.
She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Brenneman Benton (Lee) of Vestavia, AL; her daughter-in-law, Kathryn Gayle Smith Brenneman, Hopewell Junction, NY; grandchildren, Ryan Brenneman (Dee Dee) of Charlotte, NC, Jason Brenneman (Cathy) of Stormville, NY, Beth Benton of Birmingham, AL, Brad Benton (Shannon) of Peachtree City, GA; and 8 beautiful great-grandchildren, Belle and Blythe Brenneman of Charlotte, NC, Wyatt, Ava, and Elise Brenneman of Stormville, NY, and Dallas, Lilly, and Barrett Benton of Peachtree City, GA. She is also survived by her sister, Betty Wear Landers (Buddy) of Decatur, AL.
Visitation will be Tuesday, July 24, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Sheffield. The funeral service will follow at 12:00 p.m. with Chad Holder officiating. Burial will be at Colbert Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Breast Cancer fund or your favorite charity.
Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
