Friends gather at Shearn's to celebrate islander's birthday

Brenda Atchley was raised in Galveston by Adele Howard and Galveston District Judge J.G. Howard. When her father died at age 44, Brenda and her mother moved to Houston. Later, Brenda received a degree in Education from the University of Texas at Austin. While there, she met Jim. The couple dated three months before becoming engaged. A year later, they were married. During their 61 years of marriage, their accolades and accomplishments have been many. Jim honorably served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war. He started the Bank of Galveston — now HomeTown Bank — and served as its president.

After retiring in 1989, Brenda and Jim returned to Galveston. The couple have two children, Renee Dragis and Dale Atchley. They have two wonderful grandchildren. Not one to let grass grow under her feet, Brenda is on the auxiliary board of the Salvation Army and continues to serve weekly in the kitchen. She’s active in Trinity Episcopal Church, and serves in Daughters of the King and Altar Guild. She also is a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, Galveston Republican Women, is a sustainer in the Galveston Junior League and the Houston Junior League. One of her early passions has always been the Galveston Humane Society. When the animal shelter was in need of a new building to house and help the animals, she and friend Cynthia McEldowney brainstormed together. The first Paws Gala was born and has been a 21-year island tradition.