Brenda Lee Rocks Our Family Tree

Born on December 11, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, Brenda Mae Tarpley is better known to the world as Brenda Lee. While Brenda stands under five feet tall, one should not be fooled by her height. Her voice and personality are huge. Her loud and powerful signing voice earned her the name "Little Dynamite" when she was just a little girl looking for places where she could sing. Many people know her from her hits like, "I'm Sorry" and "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree," but we know her as Cousin Brenda. 

My mother, Kathy (Maxwell) Collins is the daughter of Cecil and Mathie Lee (Reed) Maxwell. Sadly, Mathie died from cancer when my mother was only four years old. Years later Cecil married Mamie Shacklett. Mamie was also a widow with two children of her own. Cecil and Kathy moved to be with Mamie and her two children. Together Cecil and Mamie raised their three children in the Woodbine area of Nashville. 

Mamie's family was well-known in Nashville. Her brother, Earl, served as a councilman and was highly involved in the Nashville community. He ran a construction business and served as one of the founding members of the Metro-Nashville Council. He left a lasting legacy in Nashville of leadership and spunky personality. There's even a story of him punching the famous Mayor Briley over a council issue. Earl believed in Nashville and wanted to see it thrive. He was literally willing to put up a fight for the future of Nashville. 

Earl and his wife, Helen, were blessed with four sons. One of his sons, Ronnie, was instantly smitten by Brenda Lee when the two crossed paths at a concert at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Both were eighteen at the time and determined to take on the world. While Ronnie stood at six foot four, Brenda did not even reach five feet in height. The difference was noticeable but did not phase the two youngsters. They fell hard and head over heels for each other. Many people were shocked when the two married only six months after meeting. 

It is interesting to note that when Brenda became a Shacklett, her family did not attend the ceremony. My mother remembers that Brenda's family did not approve of the marriage. Ronnie and Brenda's short courtship created doubt with many people. Sadly Brenda's family had experienced many financial difficulties and feared the whirlwind romance. Brenda's family doubted Ronnie's love and assumed he simply wanted to marry her for her success. Ronnie proved them all wrong. Brenda and Ronnie still remain happily married today. They were blessed with two daughters, Jolie and Julie and were subsequently with three grandchildren.  

Over the course of my life, I remember meeting Cousin Brenda a few times. Like the great southern lady she is, she is always fashionably dressed and full of sweetness. She always makes you feel comfortable and she is ready with a big hug. As a teenager, when I learned that Brenda was the voice of "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree," I was in shock. I would have never thought that voice belonged to Cousin Brenda. She not only rocked that Christmas tree, she rocked our family tree. 

Links for additional information: 

https://www.biography.com/musicians/brenda-lee 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-brenda-leeronnie-shackle/5022707/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-brendas-father-in-law/29999814/

https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/brenda-lee 

https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/country-music/brenda-lee-biography#:~:text=Brenda%20was%20inducted%20into%20the,in%201997%20and%202002%2C%20respectively.