Brenda J. Hopkin Newburn

~ Our Queen Mother ~

The journey of life for Brenda Joan Hopkin-Newburn began on August 7, 1942, in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was the only child born to Grace Calhoun Wiley and John Hopkin. Upon her mother’s marriage, she was raised by her stepdad, Clyde Wiley. They taught her to keep God first, adhere to high morals, as well as spiritual and educational values.

Brenda accepted Christ at a tender age and was baptized at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Malvern, Arkansas. She was educated in Hot Spring County and was a 1960 graduate of Wilson High School. Afterwards, she attended Ouachita Baptist University, earning an Associate’s degree in Nursing in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. After retiring as an LPN, Brenda saw a need to help her community. She was employed as a social worker for CADC, and as a mental health nurse for TFS Counseling.

She married the love of her life Franklin D. Newburn on June 10, 1960, and to this union three handsome sons were born. Brenda and Frank’s love was one of wonder, dedication, and commitment for 45 years, until the untimely passing of her beloved husband on January 11, 2006. Three months after Frank’s call to the ministry, he pastored St. Paul Baptist Church in Benton, AR; Harrison Chapel in Antione, AR; and Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Malvern, AR.

Brenda enjoyed singing and  listening to gospel music, watching The Young & the Restless, and The Bold & the Beautiful. Her passion and enthusiasm for singing was woven into the fabric of her children’s life. She was a baker of delicious cakes and always spoke encouraging words to anyone she met. She was gentle, yet firm. She faithfully served Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, as First Lady Emeritus, the mission board, and The Minnie Gloster Club. As a choir member, she was known as a lead to “Order My Steps” and “More Than Enough.” Her favorite things to do were spending time with her family, birthdays, Thanksgivings, and Christmas. She was traditional woman by far. Brenda loved her sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren dearly!

Brenda was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Rev. Franklin D. Newburn, her youngest son, Rev. Derrick “Rick” Newburn, her aunts, uncle, and cousins.

She leaves a lifetime of memories and laughs with her sons, Kenneth of Malvern, AR; Randall of Little Rock, AR; her first cousin that her and Frank raised as a son, Bernard Calhoun and his wife, Sherylita of Portland, OR; ten grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one on the way. Special daughters, Rita K. Newburn, and Lakim E. Burley; family, nieces and nephews, sister-in-law, Maureen Newburn Owens; a special nephew whom she loved as a son, Minister Demond Newburn, close friends, Pastor J.N. McCollum, Geogia Greene, and Geneva Ailsworth, as well as a caravan of cousins, friends, the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church family and the Malvern community.

Public visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2024, and the family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Malvern, AR. A celebration of her life will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Malvern, AR, with Moderator Donald Crosley, Sr., officiant and Pastor B. E. Blackman, eulogist. The interment will be at Perla Gate Cemetery in Perla, AR.

Her grandsons will serve as active pallbearers, Antonio Newburn, Reginald Bolden, LaMar Newburn, Timothy Newburn, Kolby Fenceroy-Newburn, and Kaden Fenceroy-Newburn. Honorable to mention are Grandson Angelo Newburn and the Deacons of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church family.