Mrs. Brenda Joyce Smith Gattison

It is with heartfelt sorrow that the management and staff of Mitchell-Josey Funeral Home, Inc. announces the passing of Mrs. Brenda Gattison of Darlington. Mrs. Gattison transitioned on Tuesday, March 09, 2021 at her residence following an extended illness.  

Funeral service is 2:00pm on Wednesday, March 18, 2021 in church yard of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Please adhere to social distancing and mask wearing. 

Obituary

    Mrs. Brenda Joyce Smith Gattison entered her eternal rest on Tuesday, March 09, 2021, after a long fought battle with an illness. She has graciously and peacefully exited this life and taken the hand of her heavenly father.

     Ms. Brenda was born November 2, 1951, as the youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Smith, Sr. and Sallie Lee Fields Smith. As a young girl she was a member of New Hopewell Baptist Church and a graduate of Rosenwald High School (class of 1970), both located in Society Hill, South Carolina. She later became a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where she worshipped, praised and fellowshipped until her illness prevented her from doing so. She served as a choir president and youth advisor; known for the voice that was so unforgettable. For many years she worked with Walt’s Wholesale Clothing, known as the “uniform lady” and became known to many, near and far. Although a very candid and nonchalant woman at times, her compassionate personality captivated the hearts of anyone who met her.

     In Brenda’s early years she met the love of her life and solidified that bond with a marital union in August 1971. In that union they were blessed with six children. She was not only a mother to her children, but to anyone that came in her presence and needed that motherly touch and a disciplinarian; she became Momma, Grandma, Aunt or Ms. Brenda to them all. 

     Those blessed and left to cherish her memories and legacy are her loving and devoted husband Sammie Lee Gattison, Sr., of the home; her children:  Ava (Shawn) Washington, Sammie (Tonya) Gattison, Jr., Fredric (Patricia) Gattison {Columbia, SC}, Reponisa Gattison, Keith Gattison, and Kevin (Belinda) Gattison, all of Darlington, SC, Delaine Gattison {Charlotte, NC}, Jeanette Hunter and Janie (Ronnie) Sellers; her siblings: a sister, Nancy Venson {Myrtle Beach, SC}, brothers: Rickey (Contina) Smith {Darlington, SC} and James (Michel) Smith {McBee, SC} and her aunt, Ms. Wilhelmina Hart {Far Rockaway, NY}; her in-laws: Mary (Lawrence) Watts, Lorene (Charlie) Johnson, Jack (Gwendolyn) Gattison, James (Robbie) Gattison, Roosevelt (Dorothy) Joint, Mary Gattison, Rosa Gattison and Gladys Gattison; her grandchildren: Brenda Hunter, Brandon (Shoqunda) Hunter, Shaneque Gattison, Tyisha Gattison, Asia Gattison, Inesha Gattison, Analayah Gattison, Kendal Gattison and Caydon-Bryce Hunter … Tonya O’Neal, Paulette Rumph, Dominik Washington, Chynah Benjamin, Chardé Benjamin, and Samiya Benjamin … Rodney Allen, Delonta (Ashley) Isaac, Terrick Hunter, Jarrett Sellers, Cameren Sellers, Delano Cunningham and Amber Cunningham and twenty-six great grandchildren, an abundance of nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, acquaintances, former co-workers and church family. She was blessed with the heart to take in several other children, Willie Townsend (Jakel and Jakera), Tina Smith (Journey), Jannie (Tyrone) Jackson (Brittney, Rodrick and Paula), Perry Wilds, Annalisha Muldrow, Arell Samuel (D’mareon and Isabella) and Barbara (Willie) Smith, Jr. (Kwelliesha, Kwuamaine, Kemohn).

     She has gone on to reunite with her parents (Johnny and Sallie Smith), in-laws (Leroy, Jr. and Eva Gattison), brothers (Johnny Jr., David, and Frank), sisters (Virginia and Sallie Ann), a special niece (Debra Hunter), a granddaughter Tiffney O’Neal and a great grandson Braydon Hunter.

Visitation for family and friends will be held at the residence, 3204 Hartsville Highway, Darlington. Please wear mask while visiting the residence. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mrs. Brenda Joyce Smith Gattison, please visit our floral store.