Brenda Lou Crenshaw

MAY 13, 1957 – FEBRUARY 10, 2016

Brenda Crenshaw, 58, of San Antonio went to be with her beloved savior on Feb. 10, 2016, when she lost her battle with diabetes.

She was born Brenda Lou Derrick on May 13, 1957, in Austin, the first child of Bert and Shirley Derrick. Bert transferred his small family from Austin to Virginia while on active duty in the Army and then back to his hometown of Corpus Christi. Big sister Brenda was joined three years later by sister, Karen, and in another three years by brother, Ron. Brenda attended Meadowbrook and Kostoryz Elementary Schools and Tom Browne Jr. High. She was graduated from Mary Carroll High School in 1975. Brenda was a member of Camp Fire Girls for 11 years and earned the Wohelo Award, the club's highest achievement. She was an A-student who graduated near the top of her class.

In high school Brenda also served as a student volunteer at the former P&H Hospital on Weber Road in Corpus Christi. That experience fueled her passion for helping others and led her to pursue a nursing science degree at Del Mar College. She became a registered nurse (RN) in 1978. This was the beginning of a nearly forty year career in nursing. It was in nursing school that Brenda discovered that she was a diabetic.

Brenda married Lance Crenshaw in 1975, and the couple relocated to Guthrie, Ok., where Brenda served as a staff nurse in labor and delivery/nursery/postpartum at Guthrie Hospital, and then a NICU staff nurse at Oklahoma Memorial Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City. Brenda also volunteered as an emergency medical technician (EMT) for the Guthrie Fire Department.

Brenda and Lance adopted two young sons, Michael and Erich, and soon welcomed daughter, Tiffany, and then daughter, Brittany, to the family. Brenda and the kids relocated to Boerne, Tex., in 1988. Now a single mom, Brenda worked in San Antonio as a pediatric case manager for Olsten Health Services; a PICU staff nurse and later a pediatric case manager at Methodist Children's Hospital; a pediatric care coordinator for Star Care Home Health; a pediatric case manager for Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital, a case manager for Superior Health Plan; a pediatric case manager for University Health System; clinic supervisor for the University Health System Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic; and an adult and pediatric diabetes instructor for University Health System until her retirement in 2015.

While a gifted and beloved nurse, mother, sister, daughter and friend to so many, Brenda was a devout Christian all of her life. She loved the Lord and devoted hours and hours to serving him through her ministry to so many. She was a member of the Community Bible Church in San Antonio.

Brenda is survived by her sons, Michael Crenshaw of Dallas; Erich Crenshaw of Oklahoma; her daughters, Tiffany Crenshaw and Brittany Crenshaw of San Antonio; her parents, Bert and Shirley Derrick of Fredericksburg; a sister, Karen Derrick Goslin, and brother-in-law, David Goslin, of Charlotte, N.C.; a brother, Ron Derrick, and sister-in-law, Lauri Derrick, of San Antonio; three nephews, Andrew Derrick of New Braunsfels, Drew Goslin of Charlotte, and Reagan Derrick of Kerrville, Tex.; and two nieces, Julie Goslin of Charlotte and Sarah Derrick of Kerrville. She also is survived by her beloved Yorkshire Terrier, Kelli.

A service to celebrated Brenda's life, accomplishments and the gifts she shared with so many will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18, at Community Bible Church, 2477 N. Loop 1604, San Antonio, TX, 78233. A reception by the family for all guests will take place at the church immediately following the service.

The family would like to ask in lieu of flowers, family and friends can make a donation in memory of Brenda to the South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Association at www.stjda.org/donations

In the "Name your donation" line, please put "In memory of Brenda Crenshaw for Camp Freedom."