Brenda Leach

Brenda Mason Leach passed away on May 4, 2013 during recovery from a fall suffered last year. A graduate of Wheaton College in Massachusetts, she was an education major who worked several years as a pre-school teacher. As a young woman, she was actively involved in her community while raising her two children. She spent many years as a volunteer for United Givers Fund and the League of Women Voters. She was a volunteer and an officer of Church Women United and Vanderbilt Womens Club. In addition, she spearheaded multiple campaigns blocking commercial zoning proposals that would have negatively impacted her neighborhood. After raising her children, she spent several years serving as librarian at her church. Throughout her life, Brenda took great joy in singing, beginning with her college choir, continuing in her church choirs and even including a time with the Nashville Symphony Chorus. Born in Melrose, Massachusetts, in 1924, the daughter of Hervey Mason and Achsa Chase Mason, Brenda was predeceased by her husband, Douglas Edward Leach. She is survived by her son Brad Leach (Cindy Williams), daughter, Carol Lea-Mord (Kevin Morehead), numerous beloved neices and nephews as well as many close friends both in her hometown of Nashville and around the world. Brenda was an outgoing person who loved to travel and meet new people, many of whom became life-long friends. She and her family lived both in England and New Zealand. She and her husband enjoyed traveling, including camping across the United States, traveling around the world or relaxing with family and friends who were scattered about the country. She and her husband enjoyed traveling, including time spent exploring the West in their RV. Although she traveled around the world, her heart remained at the place of her soul renewal, a small family cottage on the shore of New Hampshires Lake Winnipesaukee. Brenda always had an affinity for nature, manifested in avid birding and the joy she took from watching deer and other wildlife from her dining room window. Her consuming passion however, was her devotion to family and friends. This was expressed in many forms, such as supporting her husbands writing through hours of manuscript transcription and proofreading. Another example was supporting her sons growing interest in car racing by becoming a dedicated NASCAR fan herself. Throughout her life, she maintained unwavering support for numerous charities and political causes. As a result of growing up during the depression, she was a life long conservator, recylcling and reusing long before it became fashionable. In keeping with her philosophy of never throwing away anything that could be useful to someone else, she has chosen to donate her body to Vanderbilt Medical School. Long a member of Calvary United Methodist Church (3701 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN) the visitation will be held there on Tuesday, May 28 at 4:00 followed by a celebration of life service at 5:00. In keeping with her generosity of spirit, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, 331 Great Circle Rd., Nashville, TN 37228.