Brenda Newman Salter, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, and friend, passed away on October 21, 2026. Her life was rooted in a deep faith in Jesus Christ, an enduring love for her family and close friends, and a calling to nurture and teach young children.

Born on October 13, 1942, in Savannah, Georgia, Brenda was the daughter of Willis Grady Newman and Martha Frocene McElveen Newman.

Family was at the heart of Brenda’s life. She was the loving wife of Grady Alton Salter and the proud mother of Ronald Scott Salter and Sheri Salter Lilley. She was also blessed by the families her children built, welcoming Scott’s wife, Jo-Anne, and Sheri’s husband, Tim, with love and holding them close as part of her own family.  She treasured her children, their spouses, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild, finding some of her greatest joy in the time they shared.

Brenda’s circle of love also included close friends and those she embraced as family, especially Mandy Sperrey, Kharma Sperrey and Lydia Cowan, the fiancée of her late grandson, Samuel Lilley. She shared a special bond with her dear friend and “sister girl,” Betty Cribbs. To Brenda, family was defined by love, and she opened both her heart and her home to the people she held dear.

That same loving spirit shaped her work with children. During her 17 years at Calvary, Brenda gave kindergarten students more than the beginnings of an education. She offered encouragement, patience, and care, helping them learn and grow while knowing they were loved. Her dedication also extended beyond her own classroom. She helped design, build, and launch daycare and preschool facilities at Windsor Forest Baptist Church, The Discovery Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Sonshine Learning Center, and South Newport Baptist Church Preschool, creating welcoming places where many more children could flourish.

Brenda’s faith guided her life and the lessons she shared. She taught her kindergarten students to recite Psalm 100 each day, giving them words of praise and thanksgiving to carry beyond the classroom. “Serve the Lord with gladness” reflected the spirit she brought to teaching, caring for others, and loving her family. Her love for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was central to who she was.

Brenda also found joy in creating beautiful things. She loved flowers, arts and crafts, and decorating, and she had a gift for making ordinary things special. Her family especially loved the cakes that earned her the affectionate nickname “CakeMaster Meme.” Those creations, along with the celebrations and memories surrounding them, will remain a sweet part of her family’s story.

Brenda was preceded in death by her parents, Willis Grady Newman and Martha Frocene McElveen Newman; her brother, James Benjamin Newman; her sister, Rose Dale Newman, who passed away at birth; and her cherished grandson, Samuel Walter Lilley.

She is survived by her husband, Grady Alton Salter; her son, Ronald Scott Salter, and his wife, Jo-Anne; her daughter, Sheri Salter Lilley, and her husband, Tim; her grandchildren, Megan Trull (Adam), Madison Tovar (Logan), Patrick Daugherty, Joshua Lilley, and Tiffany Gibson, Lydia Cowan, her late grandson Samuel Lilley’s fiancée; her great-grandchildren, Leo Tovar, Scotty Trull, Ember Tovar, Wyatt Trull, Jonathan Gibson (Madison), Ryan Gibson, and Kaitlyn Gibson; her great-great-grandchild, Samuel Gibson; and her beloved adopted family, Mandy Sperrey and Kharma Sperrey. She also leaves her dear friend and “sister girl,” Betty Cribbs, along with extended family and dear friends who will remember her with love.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff at St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital and Hospice of Savannah for the compassion, kindness, and care they have shown Brenda and her family. Their support during this difficult time will always be remembered with deep appreciation.

Brenda’s legacy lives on in the family she nurtured, the friendships she held close, and the many children whose first lessons were shaped by her care. Those who loved her will remember her creativity, devotion, and the faith she shared through her words and daily life.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel, followed by a funeral service beginning at 11:00 a.m. A private burial will be held in Greenwich Cemetery. 

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”

Psalm 100:1–2