Brenda Carol Simpson Nail

Brenda Carol Simpson Nail (aged 84)

Brenda was born in McCamey, TX on December 15th in 1940. Her parents were Willard and Maxine Simpson, both originally from Tipton, Oklahoma.

Brenda moved to Odessa, TX when she was in seventh grade starting school at Bowie Junior High and as a ninth grader was part of the first cohort of students in 1955 at the new Bonham Junior High School. She was the first drum major for the band at Bonham Junior High School. Brenda was a graduate of Odessa High School in 1959 and furthered her education by attending and graduating from Draughan’s Business School in Lubbock in 1960. She also attended Odessa College for a time majoring in art.

Brenda married her high school sweetheart Charles Elliot Nail on August 11, 1961, in Odessa, TX. After the birth of her first child, Brenda flew six weeks later to Germany to be with Charles who was serving in the military. As a military wife she became a strong, independent, and very resourceful person while living in a foreign country and raising two young children. These experiences helped her as she navigated through a varied professional career, including work as a secretary, a medical supply salesperson, a florist at Vivian’s Floral, and a substitute teacher for ECISD. Her most important job, as she often said, was supporting her husband and children in all of their endeavors.

She was a loving mother and wife, a faithful, fiercely loyal friend, and a very vocal MOJO band and football fan. Her vibrant personality, creativity and positive attitude impacted many young students and friends over the span of her life.

Brenda was a devout Christian and was active in working with vacation bible schools and bible bowls when her children were young. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Odessa for the last 30 years. She was also a member of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority in Odessa for several years and served the club as president.

Brenda was preceded in death by her parents, Willard Simpson and Maxine Simpson Warden. She is survived by her husband Charles; her brother Charles Simpson (Teri); her children Thomas Nail (Hillary) and Valerie Miller (Jay); and her grandchildren Matt Cook, Ada Nail, Thomason Nail, Kayden Nail, William Miller, and Trinity Miller.