Brenda Reid has been a physical therapist for 34 years. For the first 10 years of her career, she worked for Wadley Regional Medical Center. She has spent the latter 24 years at Temple Memorial, an outpatient facility for children with disabilities. Married to her husband, Reginald, Brenda’s most privileged occupation is being a mother to Ashle’ Sappington (who is married to Daniel), RJ Reid, Chris Reid, and Mya Reid. “God has entrusted four beautiful, fun-loving children to me, and I have done my best to be a parent that He would commend.”

Happy, assertive, loving, kind, and caring are just a few words that can be used to describe Brenda Reid. Professionally, Brenda’s proudest accomplishment is hearing parents say, “Thank you for helping my child or children to achieve skills we didn’t think would ever be possible.” She enjoys seeing former patients who are now parents themselves, bring their children to Temple for treatment. She explains, “There is just an unmistakable, unexplainable joy inside of me when I see them. It’s akin to witnessing a small miracle knowing you had a crucial role in making their quality of life better. No matter what their disabilities are, I want ‘all’ my babies/children to be successful in life.”

Personally, Brenda enjoys loving, nurturing, and protecting her children. With each having a different and unique personality, Brenda is proud of how she and Reginald have been open and patient enough to discover the balance between allowing them to express themselves, while also setting boundaries to keep them safe. “When children are PKs (preacher’s kids), there are certain expectations that are presumably placed on them. Hopefully, we have reared them to love others and God, and to be respectful and helpful while seeking to find the God-ordained purpose for their lives,” she explains.

While growing up, Brenda’s greatest influences were her parents, Robert and Dora Hector. Now, she admits that her husband (and pastor), Reginald, is a huge influence on her because of his great passion and love for the Word of God. “When he preaches or teaches God’s Word, it is plain and simple for you to grasp and understand,” she says. “As a result, I have matured more spiritually, and my relationship with God continues to grow.”

Jeremiah 29:11 states, “God has a purpose and a plan for your life.” Brenda Reid lives out that plan while ministering to others through her church, Polly Chapel, where she teaches a beginner’s Sunday School class and mentors young ladies during Youth Connection services. She is also a member of the vision team tasked with presenting ministry ideas as to how believers can best leave fingerprints in the community.

The way SUSAN STANLEY sees her ...

Brenda Reid has worked at Temple Memorial Rehabilitation Center for more than 20 years. She is a wonderful physical therapist who goes above and beyond the call of duty for her clients. She works with children and their families and frequently provides many services that are not part of a PT’s typical job. All babies who come to Temple get her review of their car seats. She educates parents on how to be sure their precious children are safely secured in their cars. She develops a relationship with children and parents alike that may last their whole lifetime.

Watching Brenda work with children at Temple is a true joy. She engages them at their level and also gets the family involved in their program.

Outside of Temple, Brenda is active in her church, Polly Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, where her husband, Reginald, is the pastor. She is active in the choir and teaches in their evening program. Both teens and preschoolers have had her attention.

Brenda has two daughters and two sons, aged 32 to 17. She is raising them to be responsible citizens of Texarkana, Texas, and the United States. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, a service sorority, Brenda is generous with her time, talent and finances to organizations that she loves, and I am proud to call Brenda a friend.

FUN FACTS

What is something unique about you that most people would not know?
“Growing up in Garland, I played a lot of basketball. In junior high, we were undefeated for two years in a row, winning 80 consecutive games. I also played on the Arkansas All-Star basketball team for the South, and we won.”

If you could trade places with any person for a week, famous or not, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
“Michelle Obama. She is an all-around class act.”

If you could travel to space, and it was free, would you go?
“Yes, free road trip! I would want to leave at night so I could see the Northern Lights.”

What music do you listen to in your vehicle? “Kirk Franklin praise radio when I’m alone; with the children, anything goes – rap, hip-pop, or R&B; with Reggie, we listen to MSNBC.”

What did you imagine yourself being when you were growing up?
“My high school biology teacher, Ms. Thomas, inspired my love for science. I wanted to be a science/biology teacher and a basketball coach, but God had other plans.”

What is the last gift you gave someone? “A gift card for my friend, Bambi, for her baby shower and, of course, it was accompanied by her favorite Starburst jelly beans.”

What is your favorite meal that you order regularly at a local establishment?
“That would be the 10 oz. ribeye at Outback, medium well, salad without cheese with ranch and house light vinaigrette on the side, and a loaded sweet potato.”

If there was a movie produced about your life, which actress would portray you?
“In my younger years, Paula Patton would have been the best choice. Right now, it would be Angela Bassett.”

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