Brenda Joyce Blagg, 75, of Fayetteville, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2022 in Fayetteville. She was born May 3, 1947 in Newport, AR to William and Juanita Johnson Blagg.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one niece, Jennifer Smith.
Brenda was a journalist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. She was an avid Razorback fan. Brenda enjoyed spending time with family, watching the news and Arkansas politics.
She is survived by two sisters, Janie Blagg of Fayetteville, AR and Sondra Sue Cox (Jerry) of Jonesboro, AR; three nieces, Amy Clark, Jill King and Deana McCormack; a nephew, Chad Cox; and 8 grand-nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Monday, December 19, 2022 at Beard’s Chapel.
A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at the funeral home.
Cremation arrangements by Beard’s Funeral Chapel.
She was a wonderful writer and great mentor and will be missed.
Dear Family,
Brenda was quite simply the best. I cannot quantify just how much I learned from her when we were undergraduates and she was my Traveler editor, but also as working professionals. She had a keen sense for BS and watched closely as elected officials handled public funds. Brenda always kept the aspirations of taxpayers upper most in her work.
Brenda loved her family. Her sisters’ children could very well have been her own if you judged by the way she boasted of them and beamed with pride.
Thank you family for sharing Brenda with us. We couldn’t possibly have created a better “big sister” nor could we have asked for someone who loved Arkansas more than Brenda Blagg. She was amazing.
Losing Brenda is such a loss to the world. An accomplished journalist,
artist and carpenter !
She could do anything!
Our hearts are aching with overwhelming sadness.
I am sorry to learn about Brenda’s passing. I worked with her at the Springdale News when she was just beginning her career. She was a great journalist and even better person. I don’t know what I enjoyed more, editing her reams of well-written stories about the good and bad of local politicians, or her spontaneous, booming laugh.
Every hour since I learned of her death, I remember yet another wonderful moment with her. Many trips, plays and casino visits, and more of a loss, the hours and hours we sat and talked about our lives and how we could cope or make things better — always punctuated with gales of laughter. I loved her like a sister. My grief is great but I am relieved that she now rests in peace.
We are all better journalists and humans for having known Brenda. She was “the top” that we all aspired to reach but never quite made it to her level. She clearly forgot or disregarded more knowledge than any of us attained. All this with a razor sharp, quick wit and a remarkable, unmistakable laugh that we will all cherish having heard. Be at peace, Brenda. You left your beloved Arkansas a better place.
Brenda will be missed by all who knew her, especially all our Newport Class of 65. Brenda’s mom an my mom shared a room in the hospital at Newport when we were born. Prayers for Janie and Sandy and all her family.
Though I was not a personal friend of Brenda’s, I followed her all through the years and would like her family to know that I and many of my friends considered whatever she wrote to be the gospel. She never failed us, and I can’t express how sorry I was to read of her passing.
What a wonderful, kind, dedicated person. Brenda was so kind to share her bedroom with all of her sisters friends. We werent the quietest 8th graders. She was so devoted to the Newport high School news paper that she barely noticed us. I can still hear her laugh. Rest in peace sweet sweet lady and know that you made a big difference to ALL that you met!!!!!
I was so sorry to learn of Brenda’s passing. I knew her for more than 50 years. She was the editor of the Arkansas Traveler when I joined the staff as an assistant copy editor my sophomore year. That fall, Hill Hall burned. Under Brenda’s leadership, we published the paper the next day. She told the story of that remarkable night many times. After I graduated, I worked with Brenda at The Springdale News for two years. I covered law enforcement and she covered county government and politics. I had my first experience with investigative journalism working with Brenda on a story about the county sheriff. Even though she was only a couple of years older than me, she was a wonderful mentor. After I left Arkansas in 1974, Brenda and I stayed in touch over the years. In 2004, the Kentucky Press Association conducted a state-wide public records audit using resources Brenda shared with us from the audit she had led in Arkansas a few years before. My last contact with her was last summer. Even though she was ill, she provided feedback I requested on a national journalism award nominee from Arkansas. Journalism and her family have lost an amazing woman. Brenda is gone too soon, but she leaves a legacy of a life well lived. My deepest condolences.
Like for so many others, Brenda was such a kind, fun, and well-informed friend going back to (and ever since) the night Hill Hall burned. She made the world a better place for so many—truly, a very unique treasure.
Brenda was one of the best persons I’ve known. She was steady as a rock, prioritized her work over her personal life, enjoyed her days and had a great sense of humor. She was tough. She was someone who understood people and politics and tried to educate people about what she knew. She liked people and she was eager to talk to others learn ore about an an issue she thought was important. She mentored young journalists and they loved her.
She observed, did not make fun of others, and she loved her journalism experiences. We should all be so lucky to have spent time with her.
Our family of 5 met her in 1972 when she was covering the political campaigns and morriss was running for the Senate. She enjoyed our children, she was a trusted columnist and we learned from each other. She felt like a part of our family and after Morriss retired in 1984 I was still involved in city government and on different state boards. She was a sounding board and like a sister to me. I’m sad but so glad she is pain free with no worries.
I didn’t spend a lot of time with Brenda in recent years, but I did when we were younger, and she has been always a strong presence in my head and heart. We were in our 20s together reporting on the news for competing newspapers, and then her reporting on me as a newsmaker. On either side of the fence, she was someone you could count on to be true and fair and present. That served her well as a journalist, but even more so as a human being. Whatever situation she found herself in, she acted from that place of integrity. The energy that is Brenda cannot be consumed. It remains.
Brenda was one of the best encouragers and champions a younger female journalist could ask for. She was witty, smart, and so funny. I have had this tremendous sense of loss, but then today, I heard the “Little Ole Lady from Pasadena” and it conjured up the video image of her in a first series Gridiron portraying the Little Old Lady from South of Mena. Suddenly, I wasn’t sad. She brought such joy to us all, and I will miss her immensely.
Brenda “Blagg “ touched so many people throughout her life beginning with her childhood friends in Newport. We treasure many memories from her distinctive laugh to her accomplished journalism. Prayers for Janie, Sandy, and all the family. She will be missed by all of us.
I have lost a number of friends, good friends, in the last few years, but this one hits really close to home. I grew up with Brenda in Newport and she was one in a small group of great friends, but in truth, she was a friend to all. She had an enviable number of talents and skills. One was her quiet competence and ability, and another was the presence of her unflappable smile and laugh she so generously shared. If her car wouldn’t start, she would get out the screwdriver & away we would go, engine humming. She repeatedly drew the large paper greyhound on a hoop through which our football team ran at the beginning of a game. It seemed easy enough even though we tried to help her. She didn’t really need our help! There are more Brenda experiences than I can list. I was aware of some of her awards and accolades, but certainly not all. However, I am not surprised. Her absence leaves a hole in that solid Newport childhood foundation upon which my life has been built. I could not be more sad.
A couple of more Brenda Blagg stories in addition to the wonderful ones at the memorial service. Mike Irwin, the TV sports maven, told me that when he began his NWA career in 1975 and was commuting to Fayetteville from Fort Smith, he became confused by the wildly varying city council meetings in Fayetteville and Springdale. He asked Brenda for guidance and she very patiently explained to him the differences and nuances in the two towns’ ways of doing things. He always appreciated her for doing that.
The other story dates to when Brenda was managing the Morning News’ office building in Fayetteville while wearing all her other journalistic hats. She had got hold of a news scoop and was planning her day’s strategy when she allowed, “I am having so much fun!”
I felt a deep sense of personal loss when I learned of “Letitia May Stufflebean”‘s passing. Before a car wreck left me wheelchair-bound, I would frequently visit Brenda and her (perpetual) ongoing home improvement project. Which once involved replacing the beam that held up the second-story deck. “BJ” was a kind, compassionate, understanding and loyal friend. Her like is not likely to come along again.