Beautiful Brenda Murray, commitment coach and tax preparer extraordinaire, is putting her unwavering faith and her fiscal smarts to good use in helping to plan the Oct. 10 and 11 Collaborative Women's Conference. This new ministry, she hopes, will "pay it forward" for others.Brenda, you are cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it! How did you get involved in the Collaborative Women's Conference (CWC)?
I go to Harrison Street Missionary Baptist Church. Sister Janice Hudson had been to some CWC planning sessions, and our church was the host church for an upcoming meeting. She asked some ladies if we'd please come to the meeting and learn more about the conference.
We got there and listened, and I really liked what I heard. The idea is for women of all backgrounds, all denominations and all races to come together and celebrate the theme, "A Time for a Change." So I signed up to work on registration, but ended up being the treasurer. We're selling tickets now!
I bought one! And iList Paducah purchased an ad in the souvenir booklet. I love the idea of women reaching out to women.
It starts with us first. I'm hoping that we will be able to help someone through this ministry and that it will grow. Through this ministry, I think we can "pay it forward." Meaning that if we do something to help others, then they'll do something to help others. This conference will be something really different, and it has the potential to change someone's life.
Plus, the conference benefits Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center and Ladies Living Free. I'm thankful to be a part of it.
And don't you just love Bernice Belt (right), the facilitator? Yes, I met her some years back. I used to do a lot of modeling and she would be mistress of ceremonies. And her daughter and son-in-law, Tiffany and Associate Minister Joseph Benberry, are members of our church.
You're active in your church?
Yes. I'm one of the commitment coaches. We're there to talk to people, explain being saved, talk about heaven. Some come down and just want you to pray with them. Others might have some kind of a problem. We minister to them, listen to them and pray for them. And that's what we do.
I really like helping people. But sometimes I'm the world's worst because as they cry, I cry.
Oh my gosh. I would, too!
It is really something. I like helping people. And it's not for my glory. If you're doing something for your glory, you're doing it for the wrong reason. What I do is for God's glory. Sometimes a smile will help someone. And you never know how what you say will affect someone. I never want to say or do anything to cause anyone to hurt.
Amen, Ms. Brenda!
My children, they will tell you. I try to be really fair, open-minded and open-hearted. Now if you did it, you did it. If you didn't, you didn't. But I'm not going to defend you if you're wrong. Things happen, but they may not be the way they seem.
I bet you're an awesome mom. How many kids do you have?I have four. My oldest just moved back here from Atlanta, my second is in college, and I have a junior and a senior in high school. My husband died when he was 38. We were the same age.
Oh no! I'm so sorry. That must have been so hard.
It was a shock. He'd had a heart attack at work one day. I think about it, and I would tell my children, "We have a lot to be thankful for. He didn't suffer."
Wow. 38, on your own, four kids. How did you manage?
Everything that I do, I focus on these children. What I do affects them. My thing is, I have to do and live my life and set an example for them.
Was it hard to date as they were growing up?
Yes, because often the men I dated would want to move in. And there's no way in the world that I was going to do that. I've had male friends, though. And really, that's the extent of it.
I do a lot of things with my girl friends. We'll have girl's night out and go to the movies or celebrate someone's birthday.
Are you dating now?
I have a male companion, and we go places together from time to time. He and my husband were friends for years. Then his wife died suddenly. Several years ago, he called and asked me to go to his company's Christmas party with him, and I said, "OK, but I need you to go with me to mine." That's how that came about.
He doesn't live here, though, so we just see each other a few times a year.
Right on! So would your new fella have to be religious?
Well, I'll tell you what. That's one of the things I prefer. If you find someone rooted and grounded in the Word, if it's meant to be, it will work out. I'm at a stage in my life where I want a companion in the Word — someone who will abide by that. Someone who thinks, "I'm going to do what I need to do to do this." And then you work together.
Totally! I bet there are lots of good ones out there. And you're retired now, so you have time to look!
Yes, I worked for the Board of Education and then a friend asked if I was interested in working at one of the Calvert City plants. I said yes, absolutely. So I worked at Penwalt for 30 years. It's now Arkema.
Wow! 30 years! Are you now a lady of leisure?
Well, not quite. Before I retired, I took some H&R Block classes, and now I'm a tax preparer.
How did you get into that?I'd always done my own taxes, and I'd go to H&R Block to have someone finish them. The lady there would say, "Well, you've got it all here, I'm just filling out a few forms. You could work as a tax preparer."
Then my sister started doing taxes, and I found out that H&R Block was recruiting more preparers. I went back to the office to apply, and that same lady said, "Well, it's about time!"
Do you love it?
It's interesting. We have to have 30 hours of classes each year to keep abreast of what's happening with new tax laws. I like it.
And it's seasonal. We can manage our own schedules, which means I can go to Bible study on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Everyone has to work one Sunday a month, but I can go to the 8 a.m. service before the office opens at 11:30 a.m.
Sounds like you've got a great life going on!
I do.
