Brenda Rhew Hitchens
August 30, 1950 ~ September 21, 2013
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Brenda Rhew Hitchens, 63, of Asheville, passed away after a short illness, on Saturday, September 21, 2013.
She was a native of Asheville and graduated from Reynolds High School. She was an outdoor person who loved horses and horse back riding with her friends. She is preceded in death by her father, Cline Rhew.
Survivors include her husband, Jeff Hitchens; two daughters, Tracy Owenby and Carey Lydens of Asheville; and five grandchildren; her mother, Lucy Rhew of Asheville and two sisters, Darlene Leatherwood and her husband, Jerry, and Dianne Hodge and David Franklin all of Asheville; two nephews Josh Leatherwood and his wife Stephanie of Charlotte, and David Hodge of Florida.
A memorial service will be held at Midway Family Church, 191 Chunns Cove Road, Friday, September 27, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Keith Dockins and Rev. Ron Roberts officiating.
Memorials may be made to John F. Keever Solace Center, P.O. Box 5779, Asheville, NC, 28813.
Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road is assisting the Hitchens family.
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We are all going to miss you & your cheerful spirit. You were always so positive about everything – always smiling despite whatever was happening and amidst many obstacles you had to overcome. We had some good times that I will never forget: Horse shows, horseback riding, camping at Chattalooche with the bears &Cherokee. I will definitely never forget your laugh or smile. I wonder how many people realized that you never said anything without a small laugh at the end of a sentence. I’m glad I got to see you in August when we bumped into each other. We caught up some and little did we know, it would be our last time. I KNOW with all of our talks that you were a godly woman who loved Jesus and that you are with him now (and your father and guardian angel you saw the last time you cheated death.) You said; ‘God had a reason for letting me survive.’ I believe that part of that reason was to share your story about that experience. Rest in peace with your new wings.
That photo of Brenda is just how i remember her. her smile and I will always remember our times together and remember the love she showed her family, rest easy ole friend and I will see you again one day.
Brenda has been in my thoughts lately. I last saw her at a class reunion for Reynolds High School. Her body was battered but her spirit is indomitable. I am sorry for your loss…our loss.
Darlene & Family,
Sending my prayers and condolences. May God comfort you during this
difficult time.
So very sorry to read of Brenda’s passing. I was a class behind Brenda. I pray our savior will keep you lifted up in this sad time.
WE are so sorry to hear about Brenda. She was a great lady she love to go camping at Cades Cove and I remember going out their and they had cook hole meal on the fire and it was so good . I will not forget her pretty smile . She will be miss . Stay strong God will be with y’all throw this hard time. Prayer are being sent y’all way.
MAY THE GOOD LORD COMFORTH THE FAMILY IN THIS TIME OF SORROW,WITH GODS LOVE. BILLIE AND KEITH GIBBONS
Darlene, Lucy, Diane and faimily,
I was truly sorry to hear of Brenda’s death.Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. May God Bless and Keep you in His loving arms always.
So sorry to here about Brenda, we are praying for you all. God Bless.
June Ballard and Family
Dear Lucy, Diane and Darlene & families. I am so sorry to hear of Brenda’s passing. She always was such a happy person. She reminded me of her Dad Cline Rhew. she is rejoicing with him now. May Our Lord Jesus Christ been with you all in this time of sorrow.
Dear family, My heart is broken at the news of Brenda’s passing. It seems like only yesterday we had those school yearbook pictures made like the one we see here.
I remember all of you with fond memories of when you lived at Mamaw Chathams house in Oakley, and then off School Road. The years have flown by. But where she is resting now, and where we will meet again, time is not significant. We will live on forever.
I pray God’s blessings will be with you, and give you peace that only He can give.
Joan Dotson Spivey
Dear Family,
I am so sorry to hear of Brenda’s death. May God’s love and grace bring you comfort and strength at this time of mourning – and may your memories bring you smiles and lighten your hearts until you are with her again in His house.
I cannot express in words how heart broken I feel at Brenda’s passing. Although we hadn’t spoken in a long time she was still my best friend. Each time I drive down Tunnel Road, hear one of the songs we both loved, see a VW or Mustang, I will remember all the laughs and good times we once had and how much I loved her.
We will surely miss her.
Dear Lucy, Diane, Darlene, and all the family,
Larry and I are so saddened to hear of Brenda’s passing. She is certainly shouting on the streets of glory now. Brenda was always such a delight. I have known her over 40 years as she became part of my family through Weldon (Charles). Everytime I would see her, she never changed. She was always so upbeat and had such a positive outlook on life. May God grant all of you peace and comfort.
We have accepted our Lord called your name. Such a special, sweet soul he has taken to heaven. So many memories…Lake James when we were kids,how you cried when you graduated high school, the birth of your children, your wedding and vows to Jeff, horses/horse shows and hauling hay, Cataloochee, Christmases, picnics, friends, and family…will carry us through. You have touched the face of Jesus, and you have been blessed with eternal life. God has healed you and you will suffer no more. We will never forget your life and we will cherish you forever. We love and miss you Brenda. We will meet again.
For 45 years Brenda and I were friends. We would lose touch and when we caught up with each other, we would take up right where we left off. I always knew if I ever needed anything, all I had to do was ask. Brenda was the same anytime you saw her. Her and Deb Lemmonds set me up on a blind date 44 years ago with the man I am married to today. My prayers are with all of her family and especially Lucy who saw her daily. I love all of you guys.
Brenda was and always will be a special gift in my life. She will be missed in my heart. ALWAYS! A story for every situation, A wonderful friend and mentor she was, A source of many smiles- humor a woman who truly cared about other people. She had a hart of gold, She loved her LORD, She taught me a lot-Friendship-Love- She enriched my life. Brenda, I love and miss you, And I will see you again, May the family’s heart heal sooner rather than late, May your memories remain as strong as the day they were made. Jeff, Lucy, Diane, David and Darlene, Jerry – Tracy -Carry, Family and Friends.
WITH LOVE OF THE LORD
Deb