Brenda Lee Moreland Baker

Brenda Lee Moreland Baker, 71, of Starkville, MS passed away  Monday, November 30, 2020 at OCH Regional Medical Center in Starkville, MS.  A private service was held Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at Cockrell Funeral Home in Macon, MS. Interment was held in Adaton Baptist Church Cemetery in Starkville, MS.    In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Oktibbeha Humane Society, 510 Industrial Rd, Starkville, MS  39759 or LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, 848 Adams Ave., Memphis, TN  38103. Cockrell Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.

Brenda Lee Moreland was born in Oktibbeha County, MS on March 24, 1949 to the late Jesse Dee Moreland and Mary Lou Sanders Moreland. Brenda was always immensely proud of her Moreland and Sanders families’ lineages.  When Brenda was eight years old, her father passed away. Her mother met and married Malcolm Kendrick when she was thirteen years old and they moved to the Deerbrook Community in Noxubee County, MS. She graduated from Noxubee County High School in the Class of 1967 and then attended Mississippi State University. She worked for Presley Construction Company for several years before becoming the Manager of First Financial Services in Macon, a position that she held until she retired. Brenda always dressed very professionally for her job and enjoyed “dressing to the nines” for all occasions. For most of her adult life Brenda lived in Shuqualak, MS but in 1999 she moved to the Longview Community near Starkville. On November 25, 2005 she married Jackie Baker. Brenda was a member of the Longview Baptist Church. She enjoyed many pastimes, some of which included listening to Adrian Rogers’ sermons, taking pictures, reading, and listening to music. She loved all of her family, but especially doted on her grandchildren. Brenda loved all wild and domestic animals and would even stop her car to rescue a turtle from the road. If it was winter, she would take them home and care for them until it was warm enough to release them back into the wild. Brenda a selfless person who always put others before herself.

Brenda is preceded in death by her father, Jesse Dee Moreland; mother, Mary Lou Sanders Moreland Kendrick, step-father, Malcolm Kendrick, and the father of her children, Charlie Brooks Higginbotham, Jr.

Brenda is survived by her spouse: Jackie Baker of Starkville, MS; a daughter, Kendrick Adams (Erik) of Mathiston, MS:  a son: Tyler Higginbotham (Amy) of Long Beach, MS; seven grandchildren: Katie Rose Ricks (Casey), Maridee Moreland Robertson (Stephen), Sadie Sanders Higginbotham, Chaffin Upchurch, Isaac Adams, William Walton Adams, and Sutton Adams; two great-grandchildren: Anna Tyler Ricks and Butler Brooks Ricks; three step children: Troy Baker, Jodie Baker Fortenberry (Doug), and Taft Baker(Lynsey);  six step great grandchildren: Gracey and Ansley Baker, Jackson and Arlin Kate Dollar, Baker Fortenberry and Townes Baker.