Brenda Thornton Black

Brenda was born on July 14, 1944, raised in the North Knoxville neighborhood and graduated from Fulton High School. It was there that she met the love of her life and future husband, Bob Black. Together, they became the parents of four children and began to build what would become a deep and lasting family legacy that would inspire not only their own children, but an entire community.

For over 50 years, Coach Bob Black served as a teacher, coach, and administrator at Fulton High School. His investment there is legendary, permanently marked not only in the name of Bob Black Field, in state championships, and in a myriad of other ways, but perhaps most notably in the hearts and lives of the thousands of young people he influenced over the course of his iconic career.

However, none of this would have happened without Brenda.

Her humble, stalwart support in caring for their family and for those around them in need are just some of the ways she lived out her faith. She was also driven by a deep sense of compassion for those around her. Her presence in the football bleachers on Friday nights or at basketball games wasn’t only as a supportive wife and mother – it was as a community member who cared deeply about students who might not have someone there to cheer for them. So she did so very faithfully and with a great deal of love for her family, the players, and her alma mater.

She made the Black home a haven for family, friends, and friends of friends, and their friends friends. Everyone was welcome, and not just welcomed, but welcomed with warmth.

Brenda was also tough – anyone who has ever been a coach’s wife knows you have to be in order to sit in the stands and listen to many…opinions. Brenda did that for decades with grace, dignity, and class. This same toughness, cultivated by a life of following Jesus, allowed her to persevere through hardship and difficult circumstances she encountered all throughout her life.

She was preceded in death by parents, Paul and Omega Thornton; sister, Eula Mae Thornton; husband, Coach Bob Black; daughter, Kristi Black Walker; and granddaughter, Brooke Crass.

She is survived by children DeAngela Black, Rob Black (Michelle), and Kelley Black Seymour (Brent); grandchildren, Brittnee Emmert (Jay), Myka Walker, Hannah Walker (Joe), Taylor Walker, Makaley Black, Makenna Black, Gage Seymour (Abbey), Kaden Seymour, Cruze Seymour, and Boston Seymour; great grandchildren, Landon Lightfoot, Jaidyn Kimber, Harlyn Kimber, Bennett Emmert, Silas Emmert, Harper Seymour, Grant Seymour, and three additional great grandchildren coming soon – Baby Boy Emmert, Amiri Harris, and Amari Harris; sister, Patsy Bruce, and many extended family members and friends, and the entire Fulton Falcon Family.

The family will receive friends Sunday, September 7th from 5-7:00PM at Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home located at 2300 Adair Drive, Knoxville, 37918. The funeral service will follow at 7PM with Pastor Tim Parker officiating. Family and friends will meet at Greenwood Cemetery, 3500 Tazewell Pike, Knoxville, 37918, on Monday, September 8th at 10:45AM for an 11:00AM graveside service. Pallbearers will be Gage Seymour, Kaden Seymour, Cruze Seymour, Boston Seymour, Taylor Walker, Landon Lightfoot, Jaidyn Kimber, Joe Kimber, and Jay Emmert.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Kimball and the staff of University Gynecologic Oncology as well as Sacred Ground Hospice for their care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Fulton High School “Athletics” and can be mailed to Fulton High School at 2509 N. Broadway, Knoxville, 37917.