In Memory of Brenda Gross - For the Love of the Depot

Published:  06-04-2006

It was at the 2003, Better HomeTown Volunteer Appreciation & Taste of Flowery Branch Reception that I first met Brenda. She and Robert had come for the first time after seeing a write-up about it in the paper. When Brenda came home from work that day, Robert told her they should go and see what it was all about.

When they walked into the Depot, I immediately shook their hands and introduced myself, as I had not seen them before. During the reception, they said they wanted to get involved and would like to be on the "Keep Flowery Branch Beautiful" Committee". They talked to Daren, the Committee Chairman, about it and signed up. Daren said that on Clean-Up Day they were cheerfully picking up trash long after everyone else was gone.

Also at the reception that night, they said they wanted to be "Docents" for the Depot. They joined "Friends of the Depot" and worked as alternates on Saturdays until a regular Saturday opened up. Brenda still worked during the week, but Robert was retired, so he offered to work on Fridays as well, and they have kept the Depot open ever since.

Then they saw that the Caboose could use some attention and decided to adopt it, and kept it clean and loved. They printed interesting facts and kept them in the Caboose so that people could learn more about the purpose of a RR Caboose, which is no longer used by the Railroad.
Brenda decorated railroad ties for "Friends of the Depot" to sell. Even when Brenda was going through Chemo treatments, she never missed a Saturday at the Depot.

Brenda will surely be missed - not only by Robert and the Community, but also by another "great gal"------- the Flowery Branch Depot.

Dinah Wayne.