Brenda Gail (Little) Metzner, age 77, passed away peacefully at her home in Kenly, NC in the arms of her husband Allan and daughter Kimberly on July 2, 2026. 

Visitation will be held at Parrish Funeral Home Selma, NC on Sunday July 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at the same location at 3:00 p.m. Pastor Glen Raven of Temple City Church will be officiating. Burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA at a future date.

Brenda was born on June 30, 1948, in Smithfield, NC, and was raised on Buffalo Road. Her father’s Army career afforded her the opportunity to live in Germany for three years and live in several other states during her childhood. Brenda met her future husband, Allan, in Columbus, GA, while living with her family at Fort Benning, GA. After just two weeks of dating, Brenda (18) asked Allan (19) to marry her. He was smart enough to say yes—a decision that led to more than 58 incredible years of marriage.

After Allan completed helicopter flight training, the newlyweds were assigned to Germany, a posting they fondly referred to as their yearlong honeymoon. Following additional training in the United States, Allan was deployed to Vietnam. During his year overseas, Brenda’s younger brother, Ricky, lived with her in Alabama. The couple’s next assignment took them to Fort Riley, KS. Eighteen months after returning from Vietnam, Allan resigned from active duty, and the family moved to Massachusetts so he could attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The years that followed were challenging, busy, and deeply rewarding. Brenda and Allan were active in the movement to end the Vietnam War while also opening their home to Brenda’s youngest brother, Timmy; helping raise her sister’s six children—Margaret, Tina, Jimmy, Sharon, Becky, and Kimberly—and providing a home for her brother Ricky while he attended college. With the support of her family, Brenda decided she could pursue her own education as well. She earned an associate degree from Greenfield Community College before being accepted into Amherst College in its first class to admit women. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree as a member of the Class of 1977. The family later moved to Suffield, Connecticut, when Brenda accepted a position as a management analyst with Cigna. She became actively involved in the League of Women Voters and Special Olympics. Eventually, Brenda chose to step away from her career to devote herself full-time to her family, a role she embraced with the same zeal and generosity that defined every chapter of her life. 

When a change in her sister’s circumstances resulted in the children being returned to her sister, Brenda found herself looking for a new challenge. Soon afterward, with the help of her brother Ricky, she opened her first video store. By 1988, after Allan and his partners sold their business, Brenda sold her small chain of video stores and kiosks and convinced Allan to move to North Carolina. They spent six years in Sneads Ferry before settling in Wilmington, where they lived for more than 29 years. During that time, Brenda partnered with her older brother, Danny, in the mining and construction business, provided unwavering support throughout Allan’s career with Reeds Jewelers, Inc., and spent two years in Four Oaks, NC, helping care for and nurture her grandchildren, Ryan and Leslie Dawes. 

In 2025, Brenda and Allan fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams by completing a family compound in Johnston County, NC—a place designed to bring generations of their family together. Brenda had a passion for travel. Together, she and Allan visited all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean several times. They traveled to India, China, French Polynesia, and more than a dozen countries throughout Europe. Many of these adventures were shared with family and dear friends, creating memories that would last a lifetime. In 2013, Brenda was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. Through God’s grace, exceptional care from the medical team at Duke Cancer Center, and her own remarkable strength and determination, she continued to travel, enjoy life, and make treasured memories with those she loved for many years after her diagnosis.

For decades, Brenda has been an active member of a small social group of married professional women who call themselves “DIPWADS”. The “DIPS” support each other, comfort each other, travel together at least yearly and love each other through all seasons of life. Brenda and her family thanks the “DIPS” for all their love and support. 

Brenda is preceded in death by her father. Willard Daniel Little and mother Marguerite Armstrong Little, sister Paulette Little Murray and loving niece Rebecca Lynn Murray. Brenda is survived by her husband, Allan Metzner, daughter Kimberly Lynn Metzner; grandson Ryan Edward Dawes and his partner Samantha Jean Harper, great granddaughter Riley Starr Dawes (5) and great granddaughter Harper Odell Dawes (four months); and granddaughter Leslie Hope Dawes, great granddaughter Paisley Gail Cardone (7) all of the Kenly, NC compound. Brothers, Daniel Benjamin Little and wife Sandra of Smithfield, NC; Ricky Allan Little and wife Maritza of Currie, NC; and Timmy Ray Little and wife Sandra Kay of Fuquay Varina, NC. 

Her family thanks the staff at Duke Cancer Center for their care and support over the past 13 years. Special thanks to UNC Health Johnston and UNC Health Johnston Home Care and Hospice for their care, support and compassion.