Brender Bledsoe

Brender Avon Bledsoe, 62, of Little Rock marched peacefully off the battlefield of this earthly life into our Heavenly Father's celestial army on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012. She was a faithful and dutiful member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, 9721 Pinnacle Valley Road. After graduating from Howard University in Washington, D.C., Brender enlisted three different times in the U.S. Army, where served her country proudly and earned three honorable discharges. She remained with the U.S. Department of Defense, serving at the Pentagon—a job she loved as much as life itself. She loved music and had been an accomplished pianist and vocalist. Those left to cherish her memory include her sister, Jane Bledsoe King (Roosevelt); nephews and nieces; uncle, George Dyer; dutiful cousins, Sonja Bowen-Rose, Carolyn Dyer-Galbreath (Fred), and Rita Dyer (Oscar); among others a loving cousin, Aaron Guest Jr.; and the staff of the UAMS Myeloma Institute, especially Dr. Bart Barlogie, M.D., Ph.D,, director. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24 at St. Paul UMC, with viewing from 10 through the family processional only. Family hour is 6-7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23 at Allison Presbyterian Church, 922 Wright Ave. (at Chester). Services entrusted to GateWay Funeral Chapel, 2405 S. Gaines. Open visitation and viewing noon-4:30 p.m. also Monday at the funeral home, 501-376-7188. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Brender's memory to the UAMS Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, 4301 W. Markham, Little Rock, Ark. 72205.