Brenda Gamble McKevlin, 77, of Charleston, South Carolina, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 after a 9 year battle with dementia (a form of Alzheimer's disease).

Born on November 22, 1948, in LaGrange, GA, Brenda was the daughter of the late E. Margaret McConnell Gamble and the late T. Harold Gamble.

Brenda graduated from St. Andrews High School in Charleston in 1966 and earned a B.A. degree in Education at Baptist College (now Charleston Southern University) in 1970 and in 1974 her Masters in Education at the Citadel, with her husband Tom, and then the Masters+ 30 level of education (30+ additional college credits). Brenda taught her entire 30 year career at Springfield Elementary School, which is rare to do, also winning Teacher of the Year one year there, and retired from teaching in 2000. Brenda was a member of the Palmetto State Education Association and Ashley River Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School. She was an avid college football fan of her Charleston Southern Buccaneers and Citadel Bulldogs as well as her husband's college, the Clemson Tigers.

In addition to her parents, Brenda is preceded in death by her sister, Nancy Gamble Barbour; her niece, Debbie Gaines Ramsey; her brother in-laws: Walter Gaines, Larry Barbour, and Don Moe; and her sister-in-law, Kathleen Moe.

Brenda is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, soulmate, and main caregiver, Thomas M. McKevlin, III ; son, Shane McKevlin; daughter, Shannon McKevlin and her fiancé Jimmy Joseph, all of Charleston, SC; and her sister Sandra Gaines, of Buffalo, SC. Brenda has many surviving cousins, nieces, and nephews as well.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home in West Ashley.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM the following day on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 also at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home in West Ashley. The burial will follow, 2 miles away at Live Oak Memorial Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Shriners Children's Hospital and St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414, (843) 722-8371.