Brenda Kay Stanley

Brenda Kay Caldwell Stanley, 80, a longtime resident of Williamstown, passed away peacefully Thurs., Apr. 13, 2023 at her residence following a long bout with cancer. She was born in Williamstown on Oct. 1, 1942, the youngest child of the late Charles Herbert and Della Bennett Caldwell.   She was the Salutatorian of her 1960 Williamstown High School graduating class. She then attended Georgetown College where she was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority and received her BA degree in 1964.

On Aug. 15, 1964 Brenda was united in matrimony with William Michael Stanley. In her early married years she was employed by I.B.M. Corp. in Lexington and by Caldwell Electric Shop in Williamstown. Music was an important part of Brenda’s life and she had been a member of the Lexington Singers and was a 1988 charter member of the Kentucky Baptist Women’s Chorale where she sang for more than 30 years and participated in music mission trips to Russia, central Europe and Brazil and sang in many churches across Kentucky.

At the Williamstown Baptist Church where Brenda was a faithful member since 1958, she was actively involved in all aspects of music ministry. She served as church organist since 1974, organizing director of the church’s handbell ministry with the formation of three handbell choirs over the past 40 years, Church Music Director for 25 years, director of a youth choir, the adult choir, and formation and director of three children’s choirs. She was also an assistant pianist and participated in mission trips to Utah, Arizona and Massachusetts with her principal role as a musician. She had also been an active member of the Church’s Super Seniors, serving as president in recent years.

Brenda possessed a desire to assist in furthering the education of young people by teaching piano to many children as well as adults over a period of 53 years. A number of these included her grandchildren and other family members.

Volunteerism was an important aspect of her life and she was a former member of the Grant Co. Jr. Woman’s Club where she served as Treasurer and President, the Williamstown Woman’s Club where she served as an officer for more than 30 of the past 45 years, with 4 years as club president. With the assistance of her club she instigated the expansion of the St. Elizabeth Hospice to serve residents from Grant County, then served as a hospice volunteer for more than 30 years. She joined her husband in a volunteer role as members of the Gideons International for the past 45 years.

Encouraging young people to further their education beyond high school was another important characteristic of Brenda’s life. She became a member of the Herbert Caldwell Memorial Scholarship Fund in 1993 and served as its president for the past several years. She participated on the scholarship committee of the Williamstown Woman’s club for several years and was a member of the Williamstown Kiwanis for the past several years where she served as a member of two Scholarship Committees and served as chairperson or assistant chairperson for several years. In 2014 she was elected to serve as a member of the WISE (Williamstown Independent School Educational) Trust Fund and served until recently as Vice President with the opportunity for advancement of scholarships.

Brenda’s recognitions included receiving the WHS Alumni Award in 1960, Distinguished Alumnus of 2010 by Williamstown High School, 2021 Volunteer of the Year by the Grant County Chamber of Commerce and named to the WHS Wall of Fame in 2021. Her spare time hobbies found her spending time with her six grandchildren, traveling, and playing card games including bridge, rook and solitaire.

In addition to her parents Brenda was preceded in death by her sister, Janet Fay Longbons. Besides Michael, her husband of 58 years, she is survived by her daughters, Debra Kay (Matt) Turner, Elisa Dawn (Stacy) Gray and son, Patrick Michael (Monica) Stanley, all of Williamstown, her brother, Larry Ray Caldwell, Florence, KY, and six grandchildren, Drew and Chase Turner, Tucker and Tanner Gray, and Grace and Hunter Stanley.

Visitation will be 3:00 to 7:00 PM, Sunday, April 16, 2023 at the Elliston Stanley Funeral Home in Williamstown, KY.  and after 10 a.m. Monday at the Williamstown Baptist Church, 214 N. Main St., Williamstown.  Funeral services will be held at 11a.m. on Monday, April 17 ^th at the Williamstown Baptist Church by Rev. David “Milkweed” Wotier and Rev. Sam Newman.  Burial will follow in the Williamstown Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Williamstown Baptist Church Music Dept. or Gideons International.