Brenda Joyce Darby Mack, CRNA

Retired nurse anesthetist Brenda J. Mack has passed away after a prolonged illness. She was born in Belton, South Carolina, the daughter of David Blake Darby and Mary Sue Moore Darby. Brenda came to Columbia, SC in 1963 to study at the South Carolina Baptist Hospital School of Nursing from where she earned her degree with the school’s final graduating class in 1966. She would later earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1977 from the University of South Carolina. She later studied anesthesia at the Richland Memorial Hospital School of Anesthesia where she earned her Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) designation.

She loved her career in both nursing and later in anesthesia, and she was steeped in service to her patients and profession. She served as an elected officer in her national organization, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, and she held several elected positions in the South Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists where she ultimately served as vice president and then president. In 1994 she was honored with the prestigious Agatha Hodgins Award for Outstanding Accomplishment. Brenda retired from Richland Memorial Hospital in 2002.

Brenda was married to Dr. George S. Mack for nearly 39 years. They traveled often to their favorite places, especially the San Francisco Bay Area and Wine Country where they had close friends. They were also regular attendees at the annual Monterey Jazz Festival, missing only one festival in 18 years. Brenda loved Broadway shows, and for that they traveled to New York City for a marathon week of theater and jazz clubs during the Christmas holidays. In retirement Brenda volunteered to assist patients at NHC Healthcare Lexington several days each week until her health began to decline. She loved helping the patients and residents visit others in the nursing home so they could stay mentally active. She loved the times when staff and volunteers took trips with the patients to the South Carolina State Fair, and when she and George traveled, she would bring postcards back to the NHC patients who missed her when she was gone.

The youngest of four sisters, Brenda was predeceased by her parents and her oldest sister Betty Darby Crawford. Surviving are loving sisters Bobbie Sue Darby Orvin and Mary Jo Darby Taylor, her beloved nieces Melinda Taylor Huskey (Tony), Dr. Sandra Taylor Young, Jacqueline Faye Crawford Woodson (Tucker), Lynette Crawford Brooks and nephew Ricky J. Taylor (Jan). Brenda is also survived by her adoring husband George and stepchildren Dr. Elizabeth H. Mack (Weston Lee Rice), George S. Mack, II, granddaughter Isabella Schyler Wilson Mack, her brother-in-law Dr. Joseph S. Mack and her loving Shih Tzu, Mojo Mack. Donations in memory of and in thanksgiving for Brenda may made to Harvest Hope Food Bank, Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal or the charity of one’s choice.

A 10:00 AM visitation will be held on Monday, July 29 in the parish hall of Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal located at 1512 Blanding St, Columbia, SC 29201. A requiem Mass will follow in the sanctuary at 11:00 AM followed by interment of her ashes at Elmwood Cemetery. The officiating priest will be The Revd. Father James Fraser Lyon, IV. Honorary pallbearers will be Joseph S. Mack III, Lannie Mack Finley, Marina Mack Amodio, Ellis S. Mack, Weston L. Rice, Larry S. Nichols, C. Curtis Rone, Michael A. Switzer and Robert H. Mackintosh, Jr.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful team at Lutheran Hospice, especially Gena Brooks, RN, and Jackie Dixon, CNA, also to Monique Kelly of Daybreak Adult Care Services and to Brenda’s close friend and loving caregiver Natasha Miller, CNA who would do quite literally anything for Brenda, including coming to the home to care for Brenda in the middle of the night.