Brenda Kay Cunningham

Mrs Brenda Kay Cunningham, age 75, passed away September 9, 2025, at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge, TN, after a prolonged illness.
Until the end, Brenda maintained her love for her family and friends and the ability to captivate those around her. She had a smile that made you feel comfortable, accepted, and loved and her laugh could be recognized from afar. Her sense of humor made any situation okay. A friend mentioned that she could have had her own sit-com with her clever wit and ability to make our everyday moments, and even stressful situations, times of levity and light.
Brenda was born on November 26, 1949, and raised with her family in St. Louis, MO. She was the oldest of three children, and she grew up running track and cheering for her high school. Brenda worked at Dairy Queen and could make the perfect twist cone. She also worked at 21st Century Christian as a teenager. She was involved in her church's youth group and met David Cunningham, whom she married in 1967, after graduating from Cleveland High School in St. Louis. Brenda and David moved to Oak Ridge, TN in 1968. Brenda worked at Miller's Department Store in gift-wrapping, a beautiful skill she continued to bless others with throughout her years, and as the store's costumed Easter Bunny.
Brenda was very involved with Highland View Church of Christ in Oak Ridge, where she volunteered in the Benevolent Room, a place for those that needed clothing to receive those needs. You could also see her teaching classes and singing songs with the toddlers, working in the nursery or planning innumerable showers, wedding and funeral receptions and other special events for the church. She had paper goods and a punch bowl ready to go at any time. She's also known for the hilariously funny skits she and her friends did during Ladies Bible Retreats, including a ballet duet she did with her daughter.
In 1974, Brenda and David welcomed their only child, Bridget, and they raised her in Clinton, TN. Brenda became very involved with Bridget's schools and activities, and she served on the school PTA and PTO Boards. She helped at the dance studio, the swim team and church youth group activities.
She started serving at Teenage Christian Camp at Hillbrook, in Karns, TN, in 1978, and continued as a counselor, Dean of Women and sometimes, nurse, for the camp until she could no longer navigate the rocky mountainside of the campgrounds. She also volunteered with dear friends at Palmetto Bible Camp in Marietta, SC, starting in 2000. She absolutely loved working with children, teenagers and adults, teaching and demonstrating the love of Christ. Her love for church camp was strong and deep, and those friendships made at those special places endured throughout her lifetime.
In 1990, Brenda began working as a Teaching Assistant with students with special needs for Clinton City Schools and worked there until 2014. The children that came through her class became her children, and she invested her love and time to help them learn and grow.
Brenda was a caregiver for her family, taking care of not only her husband and daughter, but also her grandmother, and her parents. When her four grandchildren were born, she stayed and helped in their first few weeks, and even months, with the twins' birth. Her grandkids looked forward to singing, dancing and shopping with GooGoo each time she visited.
Brenda loved visiting Disney World and New York City. She was a Disney planner before there was such a thing, and would make reservations at all the best restaurants and plan the best itinerary to get all the rides in. She took friends to the parks throughout her life and was very often seen wearing a Disney shirt of some sort. When visiting in NY, she would be known in the TKTS line because she would see as many Broadway shows as possible during her visits. She would squeeze a matinee and night show in one day! She loved eating at Carmines, Tavern on the Green, Norma's, and La Bonne Soupe, and shopping at Macy's. Wherever the trip was, Brenda packed the best snack bags and was ready for whatever adventure the day held.
Brenda had a strong bond with her family and friends and leaves a legacy of love, humility, selflessness, compassion and servanthood. She demonstrated her faith and served her family, her friends, her church, her work and her community. And she was rewarded with true relationships and friendships that remained until her last breath.
She is survived by her husband, David of Oak Ridge, TN and daughter, Bridget (Darren) Fulco; and grandchildren: Beatrice, Adelaide, Clementine and Dash Fulco, all of Brentwood, TN; brother Donald (Lisa) Purcell of Elkhorn, NE; and sister Tammy (Jim) Bottigliero of Naperville, IL, and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Betty and Henry Purcell and grandmother, Gladys Bolton.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Oak Ridge, TN at the end of October. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Teenage Christian Camp in Knoxville, TN or Palmetto Bible Camp in Marietta, SC.