Brenda Clay Anderson died on July 16, 2026, following a short illness. Brenda was born on March 26, 1946, in Marietta, Georgia to Thomas and Nettie Jones Clay. After her father died when she was a baby, she and her mother lived with her grandparents and her three teenaged aunts, Jo, Pat and Betty Jane, to whom she remained close for her entire life. After her mother remarried, she grew up in Winter Park, Florida. In 1965, Brenda came to Valdosta to attend Valdosta State College. It was there she met Tom Anderson, whom she married in 1966. Married for nearly 60 years, they had five children and fourteen grandchildren.

Brenda was an artist. During her life, her creativity took many forms. She opened three successful food businesses. The first was The Fabric Café in Pelham, New York in the late 1970’s, where her cooking was reviewed quite favorably by the New York Times, prompting Tom to boast for the next forty plus years that his wife was a “famous chef.” Her last venture as a restaurateur was as an original owner and head chef of Two Friends’ Café (now Friends). She was an amazing seamstress, hand smocking clothing for her three youngest children, making Halloween costumes for all her children and a senior prom dress for her oldest daughter. After retiring from her restaurant business, she took up painting and became an active member of the local artist community. She would attend artist workshops all over with her equally talented friends.

Brenda’s greatest attribute was her love for her family. She came from a large family with multitudes of cousins to whom she remained close. When she married Tom, she became a daughter to his mother and a sister to his siblings. She hosted many Anderson family gatherings over the years. She was dedicated to her family. She was the mother and grandmother that baked and decorated Christmas cookies with her children, grandchildren and their friends.

Until Tom’s retirement, Brenda was an active member of St. John Catholic Church and a fervent supporter of St. John Catholic School. At various times, Brenda was president of the St. John Home and School Association, the St. John School Board and the St. John Parish Counsel. She helped design the current kitchen in the St. John Parish Center and helped choose the décor for the sanctuary remodel in the early 2000’s. For twelve years she volunteered as the art teacher at St. John School, and she was adored by her students.

After Tom retired, Brenda and Tom spent more time at their house on her beloved St. Simons Island while still calling Valdosta home. They also travelled frequently to New York City where Tom had spent his early career.

Brenda is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, Tom; her children and their spouses Laura Anderson Wood and her husband Brian of Valdosta; Thomas Clay Anderson and his wife Glaire of Edinburgh, Scotland; Harry Buckley “Bucky” Anderson and his wife Mumbi of Athens, GA; Sarah Kate “Katie” Anderson and her husband Alessio Nasini of Chicago; Mary Anderson May and her husband Josh of Brunswick, GA. She is also survived by her fourteen grandchildren, William Ganas, Tommy Anderson, Bobby Wood, Brendan Wood, Colleen Guilbault, Chrissy Unterwagner, Anderson Nasini, Ginger Nasini, Marco Nasini, Akhare Anderson, Axl Anderson, Langston Anderson, Fiona May and Jonas May; two great grandchildren, Ollie and Otto Guilbault; her bothers Donny and Jamie Holcombe and many cousins, nieces, nephews and siblings in law.

Brenda was preceded in death by her father Thomas Clay, her mother Nettie Holcombe, her father-in-law Harry B. Anderson, her mother-in-law, Ellen Anderson, her sister-in-law, Virginia Anderson Bailey and her brother Alan Holcombe.

A funeral mass will be held at 11am on Friday, July 24, 2026, at St. John Catholic Church. A rosary will be held at the Carson McLane Funeral Home on Thursday at 530pm and then visitation until 730pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. John the Evangelist Catholic School or the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts. Online condolences may be shared at www.mclanecares.com.

Carson McLane Funeral Home