Walterine (Rene) Goldman Branning Sheffield was born April 4,1928, in Philadelphia, MS. She was the eighth of nine children: seven girls and two boys.
She was raised in a godly home on a rural farm, and loved her family very much. At 12, she gave her life to the Lord and was baptized in “Bill Myerson’s pond.” She told stories of singing “specials” in churches with her beloved niece, Catherine. She had no electricity and no indoor plumbing until after graduating high school and moving to Jackson for business school. In Jackson, she worked at a tea room where she met her future husband, Daniel Baxter Branning, Jr. She joined the Branning family, whom she loved, in 1948.
Rene and Danny were blessed with three daughters: Deborah, Brenda, and Connie. She was a loving mother and an accomplished seamstress. In 1962, they moved to Dallas, Texas, for a job promotion. About a year after the move, Rene joined Danny in working for Southern Leather Co. They enjoyed those years, working together until 1968 when Danny, 42, died three weeks after a leukemia diagnosis. About a year later, Rene married Pete Sheffield. They worked together and enjoyed traveling. They were married until 1986, when she was widowed again. In the early 90s, Rene started studying the Bible with Bible Study Fellowship and joined Northlake Baptist Church. As she studied God’s word, she grew to know and love Jesus more and more. She loved singing in the church choir and serving alongside her sweet friends.
As Rene’s family grew, they benefited from her consistent encouragement and prayers. Deborah married Lon Darley and had Danielle and Jackson. Deborah later married Bob Wilkinson, from whom Rene received bonus grandchildren, Kelsey and Tyler. Brenda married Randy Byrd and had Ty and Ashley. Connie married John Burroughs and had Christa, Brandon, Megan, and Ryan. Later Rene celebrated her grandchildren's weddings and the blessings of great-grandchildren. Danielle married Storm Foster. Christa married Shawn Svoboda and had Lincoln, Annabelle, Adeline, Alice, and Graham. Ashley married Chance Ivey and had Archer and Sebastian. Brandon married Sallie and had Charlotte and Olive. Megan married Mark Lawrence and had Silas. Ryan married Jenna and had Alden. And Jackson gave her our precious Gavin, who is with Rene in heaven, and now a new baby girl, Sol. Rene was a loving and supportive mom, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother, known affectionately as Bebe.
She gave us unconditional love, taught us to work hard, to love deeply, and how to give others a listening ear, a hug, and a pat on the back.
God blessed Rene with a strong body, good mind, and a trust in Him that allowed her to live on her own and even maintain her own sewing business in her Dallas home until 2019, when she decided to retire at 91. She continued to live independently until January 2021, when she moved to Rockwall, Texas, with Brenda and Randy. Her health was declining and she was battling memory loss. She enjoyed her life in Rockwall. Though her life became more and more limited, we were so very blessed that she never forgot us. After an eight-day stay in the hospital with an infection, she was released but began a quick decline. Nineteen days later, with her daughters by her side, she took her last breath on earth and woke up in heaven. We rejoice knowing that she’s more alive now than she’s ever been, but until we join her, we will miss seeing her face, hearing her voice, and receiving her sweet hugs.
*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.
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