Brent Dewayne Redman

On Oct. 26, 2009, an amazing little boy was born. His name was Brent Dewayne Redman, and he had bright blue eyes, sandy-blonde hair, the sweetest smile, and a kind and generous spirit. Some of the things Brent loved were going fishing with his daddy and mama, Ryan and Felisha; Ninja Turtles; Pokemon; going to McDonalds and Burger King; playing T-ball and soccer (Mama and Daddy coached); running around with his cousins and favorite partners-in-crime, Colt, Jax, and Lilly; jumping on the bed and clamoring for the best spot to sit with Grammy in her chair were frequent offenses; shooting the new BB gun his daddy bought him; playing with his best friend, Cassity (he even proposed marriage to her, but their parents said they might better wait a while); and "looking for dogs and trains" with his cousins and Grammy, which included going on adventures through the neighborhood and jumping in the car to chase after train whistles. Speaking of dogs, Brent's dog, Sam, misses him like crazy and is patiently waiting for him to come back, and she's real sorry for all those times she tried to drag him around by the back of his britches (though she can't promise not to do it again). Killer, the family dog, misses Brent too. The house just isn't the same without his laughter. Though he was only five, Brent displayed a consideration for other people that was well beyond his age. He was so thoughtful that when his cousin said he liked Brent's brand new bike better than his own, Brent happily gave it to him. And since Brent's daddy was teaching him to drive their four-wheeler and tractor, Brent often offered to drive people to town in their vehicles. Out of all the things mentioned above, however, Brent loved his Mama and Daddy, Grammy, and family most of all; and his family loves him so much there isn't even a word to describe the amount. Brent, we will miss you every single day for the rest of our lives and will never forget the happiness and goodness you brought to the world. Though right now it's very hard to feel anything but grief under the crushing weight of your sudden departure from our family, we promise to strive to reflect with joy on the wonderful little boy you were and the wonderful man we know you would have become. Although we wish so very much that you were here with us, we are comforted to know that you are lighting up the afterlives of your great-grandparents Hall, great-grandparents Kelsey, great-grandfather Rodgers, great grandmother Ruby, your dear Aunt Brandy Aderhold and finally--the man who will be the most excited to scoop you up into his arms and tell you all about turkey hunting, muscadines, sports (particularly basketball) playing poker for pennies and the time your daddy threw up all over the front seat of his brand new truck--your grandpa, Bobby Dean Shain. Your grandpa didn't get to meet you in this world, but we know he is welcoming you with open arms and a joyous smile and that he will hold you close and watch over you the same way he always watched over your daddy. He might even let you watch Star Trek with him. We'd like to properly acknowledge the the people who are left behind, missing Brent terribly and thinking of him night and day. They are his parents, Ryan and Felisha Redman; his Grammy, Christine Shain; his grandparents, Lynn and Ona Redman; grandparents, Wayne and Dorothy Hall; grandmother, Terry Kelsey; Aunt and Uncle Julie and Gary Linker; and cousin, Annabelle Linker; Aunt Candice Rose and cousins, Colt Carter and Jax Rose; Aunt and Uncle Carolyn and Greg Mehaffey and cousin Lilly; Barbara Woodard; Cindy Clark; Debbie Wiggins; Lisa Rodgers; Tiffany Scott; and Michelle Hall and Uncles Robert Woodard and James Woodard, as well as his beloved cousins: Annabelle, Colt, Jax, and Lilly, Summer, Hayden, Landen, Ailee, and Ayden and so many more. We love you, Brent, and we'll keep looking for dogs and trains and thinking always of you. Funeral service will be 2 p.m., Monday, Sept. 21 at Smith-Westbrook Chapel. Burial will follow at Antioch Cemetery. www.smithwestbrook.com.