B Strong 5K 

Dedicated wife, grandmother, educator and pillar in both the Fordland and Seymour community, Brenda Woods left a legacy behind that her family is doing everything in their power to honor. Brenda’s love for her family and students was fierce and evident in the tireless work she did. She taught in Seymour schools and tutored children in her hometown of Fordland.

“She loved her students… beyond all means. She is not the teacher that went to school and came home and just washed it away. That was never her. She went to school and she would bring home her work with her. She spent countless hours tutoring, just to see students succeed at life. If they needed anything after school. She would be there. Every-time,” shared Nicole Woods, Brenda’s daughter-in-law. “She also loved her peers and she just had a pure passion for what she did.”

In Sept. 2020, Brenda was diagnosed with appendiceal cancer and her hard fought battle ended in Jan. 2021. Brenda left behind a loving family who have searched for ways to connect with her life’s work.

Tom, Brenda’s husband, love for his wife is indisputable by his involvement in the community and the construction of a building named “B’s Place”. Funds from a life insurance policy the Wood’s never expected to use was dedicated to the building. B’s Place was intended for family gatherings, however, it is well on its way to becoming a fundraiser headquarters. 

“People get that (life insurance policy) without even thinking that you might one day cash it in, but believe me you don't want it whenever they give it to you,” reflected Tom. “I have built the building her and I had always talked about building, a kind of a venue, a family building.”

Close to being completed, there are plans to host fundraisers out of B’s place for the benefit of students in both communities. In the meantime, the Wood’s have funded a local scholarship centered around education offering $1,000 to two Seymour or Fordland students in Brenda’s honor. Their endless love for Brenda continues as the family has also organized the “B Strong 5K Walk and Run”. 

“Brenda walked every day and that's kind of what the run is about to her and her friends. She walked religiously, at five o'clock for years, every morning,” said Tom. “It was Nicole and the kids who encouraged the 5K. It all started just more or less, to keep her memory alive.”

The expression “B Strong” began on the wristband of Brenda’s nephew during one of his baseball games. Brenda’s strength after her diagnosis became the inspiration behind the phrase, further inspiring the family to add more activities and fundraisers in the future. Their hopes are to benefit both the community and raise funds for the scholarships and Care to Learn, a program Brenda cherished. 

“We put a lot of our hard work, blood, sweat and tears into this,” reflected Tom. “She touched a lot of lives. She was amazing and just one of a kind.”

 The “B Strong'' 5K Run & Walk will be held at the Fordland Elementary School located 252 North Center Street at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 30. All proceeds from the event will fund college scholarships to students from Fordland and Seymour from the B Strong Scholarship Fund. Cost to compete is $30 and only $15 for Fordland and Seymour students. All participants will receive a free T-shirt. Registration forms are available at the Fordland Elementary School and at the Webster County Citizen office on the west side of the Seymour square.  

 For more information on the April 30 event, call 417-839-0950 or 417-771-7236.