It's
hard believe it's been four years since Shortie, a/k/a Shortcakes, left
the planet. At 46, Brenda Gail Barker died early one Saturday morning in
February. Shortie played trivia for almost two years. Her spirits were
always high and in some ways, she was the glue that held the channel together.
Shortie loved early morning coffee with Mousie, Yogi and EnigmaGrl. Coffee
hour launched the day for the four early-risers. Shortie also enjoyed unwinding
after work in #trivia, and loved to play her wav files in the channel,
especially Oldies. Things were never quite the same in #trivia after Shortie
died. As a channel we were bound together in our grief for many months.
We miss you, Shortie, even today. And we will always remember you with
a smile.
Her brother-in-law, Eddie Barker, wrote this brief piece the day she died.
Brenda Gail Barker
May 24, 1951 - February 7, 1998
Brenda was married for 17 years to my oldest brother Vance. In that time, I grew to love her not as my brother’s wife, but as I would a sister. She was, and always will be, such a part of my life. Funny, smart, bubbly, full of life – all these things were part of her.
Brenda left us way before her time. Last night (Friday), she went out with Vance; they had a regular Friday night bowling league. Stopped to pick up takeout, and to pick up their granddaughter Allison, who was spending the weekend. Allison is a concentrated bundle of joy, and the apple of her grandparents’ eye. At 6:30 am this morning, after a restless night, Brenda had a massive heart attack at home. Vance tried desperately to save her, and the paramedics arrived within four minutes, but to no avail. After an hour of effort, she was pronounced dead at 7:27 AM this morning, but she had truly left us an hour before in my brother’s arms.
Part of what made Brenda so special is her giving spirit. She gave of herself freely to the Florence Crittenton Home, a state residential program for unwed mothers. If you want to do something to honor her memory, stop and reflect on what you can do to improve this world, and then go out and do it. If you want to do something tangible, make a small contribution to the Crittenton Home at:
Florence Crittenton Programs of South
Carolina
19 St. Margaret Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Attach a note or write on your check that your gift is in memory of Brenda Barker. Wherever she is, that will make her smile, I guarantee it.
Thanks for reading this.
Eddie Barker
Charleston, South Carolina
February 7, 1998
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