Brenda Russell was born in Dallas in 1948 to Nettie and Harvey Rose and was the youngest of 10 children.  Due to her mother's illness Brenda lived with her oldest sister Leona and her husband, Billie Ray Chambers in Cedar Hill.  The Chambers family was very important in her life.


When she became school age, she lived with her parents attending school in Oak Cliff and spending weekends and summers in Cedar Hill.  In 1964 she moved with her sister's family to attend Cedar Hill High School.  When her brother in law was transfered she lived with Joyce and Willard Murdock to complete school in Cedar Hill.

Brenda married Allen Russell in 1966 and they have two sons, David and Christopher. Brenda worked in banking until she began working for the tax office of the City of Cedar Hill in 1978.  The town's population was 1,800 with 4,200 tax accounts in the City and School District at the time.  She was named tax assessor  /collector for the City and School and was involved in the complicated matter of taking land for the Lake which included extensive agricultural backgrounds on the properties.

In 2003, after 25 years of service she retired with Cedar Hill's population having grown to 46,000 and the accounts to over 16,000.

Brenda received her education through the State of Texas earning certifications as a Registered Tax Assessor / Collector, Certified Tax Administrator, and Certified School Administrator.  She served on many TML and State committees during her terms of office as:  President of Texas School Assessors Assoc., President of School Administrator's Assoc., Chairman of the Certified School Tax Administrator.

Brenda believes in giving back and served as:  Education Instructor for State Tax Administrators (teaching administrative classes), Curriculum Committee for Tax A/C for the State (first working with Texas A&M to write curriculum for those entering business of taxation).
President of CH Historical Society in 1986, Fire Department Auxiliary (actor in both fundraising plays), First ladies softball team, Member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Charitable Sorority, Penn Farm Committee (serving on the first clean up), Writer of the Articles and Amendments for the CH Senior Citizen Organization and assisted County to bring Meals on Wheels to Cedar Hill senior citizens.

Since retirement Brenda enjoys taking care of the five grand children, Reagan, Jonah, Raylee, Allyson and Lindsey.  Cedar Hill is blessed to have Brenda and Allen continue to call Cedar Hill home.