BIRMINGHAM, Ala ( WIAT ) — Brenda Lovelady Spahn, founder of one of the largest faith-based recovery centers for women in Alabama, has died. She was 75.
Spahn, known to countless people as “Miss Brenda,” founded The Lovelady Center in 2004, a women’s shelter that helps women leaving prison find new life on the outside through rehabilitation and healing. The program started in Spahn’s home with seven former inmates released from Julia Tutwiler Prison and now includes a shelter in Birmingham and two thrift stores in Irondale and Birmingham.
Spahn led The Lovelady Center until 2021, passing the reins on to her daughter, executive director Melinda MeGahee.
Spahn wrote two books, “Miss Brenda and the Loveladies” and “Miss Brenda and the
Lovelady Movement,” detailing her life’s work that has to date impacted over 19,600 Loveladies
and their children.
Spahn was married to her husband, Jeff, was mother to five children and grandparent to 29 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, those wishing to pay their respects to Spahn can do so by donating to the center www.loveladycenter.org .