Phoebe Brenneman

Phoebe Branner Brenneman, 96, a resident of Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, formerly of Broadway, died Thursday, October 13, 2022.  A daughter of the late Charles and Josephine Branner, she was born on December 3, 1925 in Broadway, Virginia.

Phoebe graduated from Broadway High School and attended Eastern Mennonite School.  She then joined the staff of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Akron, PA.  She also served with MCC in Washington, DC and with a voluntary service unit in Gulfport, MS.   In Akron she met and later married Deward Brenneman from Kalona, Iowa on August 22, 1953.  They lived briefly in Kalona before moving to Broadway, VA where they spent the rest of their lives prior to going to VMRC in 2005.  Deward and Phoebe both volunteered many hours with Gift and Thrift and Booksavers after retirement.  They were both lifetime members of Zion Mennonite Church where they served in many capacities.  They enjoyed biking, camping, and hiking mountain trails and country roads.

She is survived by two sons, Tony and his wife Becky of Broadway, VA, and Tim and his wife Joy of Tifton, GA.   She was preceded in death by her brother John Branner of Harrisonburg, VA, her sister Francis Rhodes of Harrisonburg, VA and a grandson, Will Brenneman of Tifton, GA.  The family also includes eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.   In 1979 Zion Mennonite church sponsored a Vietnamese refugee family consisting of 5 siblings and a cousin.  Deward and Phoebe were heavily involved with this to the extent that they are still referred to as "Mom" and "Dad" by the Troung family.

The family will have a private graveside service at Zion Mennonite Church on November 5, and a memorial service open to the public at 1:30 PM.  There will also be a live link of the memorial service at zmcva.org.