Brenda Newcomb Gregory

Brenda Newcomb Gregory was taken from this life and into the next on June 2, 2023. It was around 9 pm on that night that a lifetime of 66 years on this earth expired as she walked into the loving arms of her Savior. 

Born on April 23, 1957, to Lewis and Mildred Newcomb of Durham, NC, Brenda was the second of three children. After graduating from Southern High School in 1975, Brenda went to work at NORTEL (then, Northern Telecom). She would leave there and go to Real Estate school. After several years selling real estate, Brenda went to work for the State Employees Credit Union. Most recently, Brenda was working for Durham Public Schools serving children breakfast and lunch at Sandy Ridge Elementary. She loved the times she was out and about while she was off and one of the kids from school recognized her as their “lunch lady.” 

In 1984, Brenda went out with her friend Diane Clements. Afterwards she reluctantly agreed to go by Station 8 with Diane where Randy Clements and Billy Thomas Gregory served as Public Safety Officers and, as they say, the rest is history. Brenda and Billy were married August 17, 1985.

The couple went on to have two children, Stefanie Luanne Gregory in January of 1987, and Kyle Lewis Gregory in June of 1989. And so, two decades of dance recitals, gymnastics, sporting events and school accomplishments ensued. Billy coached, Brenda served as commissioner of sports leagues at Oak Grove Athletic Association and President of the Board for several years. Most importantly, Billy and Brenda set aside Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights for church and took the kids with them. 

On April 24, 2004 Billy made his swift exit from this world and into Heaven. Brenda picked up the pieces of three whole worlds - hers and two kids - and marched ever so slowly into the next few years as a single mom to two teenagers. 

In her last two decades here, Brenda saw both kids graduate high school, then college; gave both away in marriage, gained two granddaughters, and saw the birth of four grandsons. Brenda wore the title of Nana proudly and she loved Taylor, Makayla, Tyler, Billy, Jackson and Rhett. She lived a relatively normal life despite having been diagnosed with a blood cancer called Polycythemia Vera in January of 2020. 

On June 2, 2023, Brenda was taken from the road she was traveling here onto a road paved with gold. She’s completely healed from blood cancer and from any heartaches of this world. After being married just shy of 19 years, and being apart for the last 19, she and Billy are reunited for eternity. 

Brenda is preceded in death by her husband, Billy T. Gregory and her mother in law, Mildred Vlaservich. She is survived by her mom and dad, Lewis and Mildred Newcomb of Durham; her daughter, Stefanie Appel (Michael Appel); son, Kyle Gregory (Lauren Gregory); grandkids Taylor, Makayla, Tyler, Billy, Jackson and Rhett; sister, Carol Foster and brother, Gary Newcomb; four nephews, three great-nephews, and two great-nieces. 

The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Hudson Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at Olive Branch Baptist Church, 123 Olive Branch Road, Durham, NC 27703.  Burial will follow at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens.  Officiating will be Rev. Tim Wheeler.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Brenda's name to National Law Enforcement Officers Fund (nleomf.org)