My mom, Brenda Joan Jasper, was an amazing woman. Born to Glenda and Carl Riley on June 23, 1943 in Enterprise, Alabama, she always had big dreams. From a young age she decided she wanted to be a teacher, unfortunately, mom never had the chance to attend college. But she was still a teacher. She taught everyone she met something about life, love, and faith. Especially me. She taught me to love the Lord with all my heart through her devotion to her church and sharing the gospel. She also taught me about a different kind of love. The kind that shows up unexpectedly. The kind she found at just 16-years-old at Crystal Beach. The kind that can be kindled with the words “The bet is I can’t dunk you.” Those words led to a marriage that lasted more than five decades. Through those fifty-five years Brenda and Jake laughed and loved and in 1967, I came along. Brenda passed to me her zeal for life and her passion for caring for others. That is something those who knew her will never forget. Through watching her life-long marriage to her best friend I was able to find the love of my life and help bring into the world Brenda’s biggest prize. Her granddaughter, Jennifer Marie. For the first eight-years of Jennifer’s life, my mom spent each Friday night in the living room sharing stories of truth and fiction, watching Murder, She Wrote and teaching Jennifer what it means to live for Jesus even when the cards you’ve been dealt may not seem like the winning hand.

Though mom suffered greatly in this life, she never stopped praising the name of her Lord and that is something our family will hold onto during the years we spend here on earth without her.

Brenda is survived by her husband, forever love, devoted caretaker, and best friend, Walter “Jake” Jasper; her daughter, Joanie Beaver, son-in-law Duane and granddaughter Jennifer; sister Barbara Gates and family; brother Jimmy Riley and family; brother Gregory Riley and family, and her many friends who loved her dearly.

On May 6, 2017, with her dedicated husband sitting by her side, Brenda Joan Jasper went home to meet her parents, who preceded her in death but now live with her in eternal life.

The viewing time for family will be Wednesday May 10 from 4-5 PM. The public visitation will follow the family viewing at 5-7 PM. The funeral will be held on Thursday May 11, 2017 at 2 PM with family arriving at 1:15.

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