May 3, 1947 – June 9, 2022
Brenda Kaye Wilks went to be with her Lord on Thursday, June 9, 2022. She was born May 3, 1947, in Borger, Texas. Her parents were Joe A.B. and Esther Helms. She grew up in Phillips, Texas where she graduated from high school in 1965. She graduated from Draughon Business School in 1967 and met Aubrey Lee Barker, Jr. They married on November 24, 1967, and made their home in Lubbock, Texas where Aubrey worked for the City of Lubbock Water Department. Their sons were born to their union, David Bryan Barker and Michael Lindsay Barker. Tragically, Aubrey Lee was killed in an industrial accident in 1974. A year later Brenda met Charles Wilks of Brownfield and they married in Tacoma, Washington. They made their home in Brownfield and raised their blended family of six children. Besides her two sons, Brenda now had four bonus children, Becky, Jackie, Kaye, and Faye. For about eight years, Brenda stayed home and raised her family, but then worked at Gold Bond and also Green Stamps stores before working in the Terry County Clerks’ office for 13 years. After retiring, she worked as a bank teller at First National Bank in Brownfield for three years.
Brenda moved to Lubbock following the death of Charles Wilks in 2007. She was a member of Monterey Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school classes for many years and was a church clerk. She also organized the funeral meals served to grieving families. Brenda sang in the choir and participated in many other activities such as senior adult activities and lady’s bible study groups. It was at Monterey that she made many lifelong friends.
Brenda was preceded in death by both husbands; Aubrey Lee Barker and Charles Wilks; and her youngest son, Michael Barker.
Those left to cherish her memory include her son, David Barker (LaDonna) of Lubbock; grandchildren, Elaina Shelton of Lubbock, Hunter Barker (Brittany) of Lubbock, and Sarilyn Barker (Ashlee) of Brownfield; four great-grandchildren, Blaze Bacon, Mazie Kaye Lewis, Bradlee Barker, and Elizabeth Barker. She is also survived by four bonus children, Becky Carroll of Brownfield, Jackie Wilks (Tammy) of Big Spring, Kaye Wagner (J.D. Butch) of Brownfield, and Faye Burns (Vincent) of Brownfield; 9 bonus grandchildren and 19 bonus great-grandchildren.
She also leaves behind many friends and church family from Monterey Baptist Church.
A visitation was held from 2:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. with family receiving friends from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Sunday, June 12, 2022, at the Venue on Broadway. A celebration of life service was held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, June 13, 2022, at Monterey Baptist Church with burial to follow at Terry County Memorial Cemetery in Brownfield, Texas.
