Obituary of Brenda C. Mantz

Brenda Mantz of Falls Church, VA. Born on April 11, 1949 to Virginius Clarke and Frankie May Forman Clarke, in Norfolk Virginia, Brenda spent much of her childhood in Pungo Creek in rural North Carolina. She later wrote a memoir about her childhood on Pungo Creek. Brenda then returned to Virginia and went to Cox High school in Virginia Beach.


Brenda graduated high school in 1967 and attended William and Mary College in Williamsburg, VA. She was a flower child and lived for a while on a commune in New Mexico. Eventually she moved to Washington, DC where she met the love of her life, John. John and Brenda had a great love for Samoyed puppies and bred a litter of six all girl puppies they called the power puff girls.


Predeceased by her parents, and her sister Addie, Brenda's legacy of love and community is exemplified by her service of helping and sponsoring a class of homeless and alcoholic residents of the 2nd and D st. shelter in Washington, DC and also by serving as president of her neighborhood Homeowners Association securing a historic designation for her Holmes Run Acre community. Brenda worked as an insurance agent and president of here own risk Creative Risk Management. She was also an avid writer, producing 3 novels and several poetry volumes. Brenda passed on December 14 2023 and is survived by her husband John; her brother Willis; and their lovely Samoyed family: Daddy, Elwood; Momma Delta; and Baby Buttercup.


The services to honor and celebrate Brenda's life will be held on December 27, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. at Parklawn Memorial Park 12800 Veirs Mill Road, Rockville Maryland 20853.