Brenda Joyce Warren

Ernestine died when Brenda was 4, and William later married Charlie Mae Miller Thomas. Brenda was the second oldest child and first daughter of 15 children. In the role of big sister she helped with family duties as the younger brothers and sisters grew in number.

Brenda attended Alta Sida Elementary, Hughes-Quinn Junior High, and East St. Louis High School. As she was growing up she became a Christian. She moved to Dallas with her young son Ricky Thomas Sr. (now deceased), and married Ivory Warren Sr. Brenda and Ivory Sr. had two children, Ivory Warren Jr. and Malaika Warren.

When Brenda moved to Dallas she attended Mt. Horeb Baptist Church. She loved listening to gospel music and watching church services on TV. She also loved to bake desserts and loved sewing cloth pieces together to make quilted throw pillows and bed covers. She avidly played the game Connect Four and worked puzzle books.

Her family , living and deceased, Children, Ricky Thomas Sr. (deceased), Ivory Warren Jr., and Malaika Warren; Grandchildren, Ricky Thomas Jr., Andrea Thomas, Willie D. Warren III, Ivory E. Warren III, Tamera Warren, and Ciera Warren; Great-grandchildren, Alexandra Thomas, and Jaylien Warren.

Sisters and brothers, Reginald Thomas (Martha), Columbus, MD; Kenneth Thomas (Shirley), Merced, CA; Ronald Newsome (Cleo), Commerce, CA; Barbara Thomas, Bolingbrook, IL; Sandra Thomas Smith (deceased May 29, 2004), St.Louis, MO; Mildred Thomas Harris (Willie Deceased), Temple, GA; Jennifer Thomas, O’Fallon, IL; Wayne Thomas (Jo Anne), Carbondale, IL; James Thomas (Patrice), Florissant, MO; William Thomas Jr., East St. Louis, IL; Kathy Thomas, East St. Louis, IL; Kevin Thomas (Doreatha), East St. Louis, IL; Kristal Thomas (deceased September 4, 2002), Atlanta, GA; and Cynthia Thomas, Belleville, IL; along with, many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.