‘Look for Brenda:’ Lamendola’s Supermarket and Gonzales community remember beloved deli cook

On the inside wall of Lamendola’s Supermarket in Gonzales, photos and newspaper clippings document the establishment’s nearly century-long history.

On Tuesday morning, owner Daphne Lamendola added a picture of Brenda Thomas to the memorial.

“The wall behind us is something that almost all my employees here give me a hard time about if they’re not on it,” Lamendola said. “… And you got to be super special to get on this wall.”

Brenda Thomas, 44, served as the store’s deli head cook for more than 13 years and was a beloved member of the Gonzales community.

Thomas was fatally shot during an altercation with her husband on the evening of June 26. The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office charged Sean Morris, 50, with counts including second-degree murder and illegal use of weapons in connection with Thomas’ death.

After she died, Lamendola’s posted a tribute on Facebook.

“Brenda's journey was one of remarkable strength and courage. As a breast cancer survivor, she inspired us all with her resilience and unwavering positivity,” the post stated. “She wasn't just a colleague; she was family. Her laughter and love filled our store, creating a sense of community and joy that will be irreplaceably missed.”

The store organized a donation drive to support the graduation expenses of Thomas’s daughter, Patricia Wilson, who emphasized her mom’s supportive nature.

“I did dance, I did cheer, and now I do color guard. She would try to go to all my games,” she said. “… She always supported me … even when I doubted myself and didn’t think highly of myself. She always lifted me up.”

The total amount raised by the drive will be announced Friday, Lamendola said. At the dedication ceremony at 11 a.m., she added a picture of Thomas — arms outstretched and grinning — to the wall, as well as a framed memorial next to the deli. The deli memorial included photos of Thomas and her green staff shirt.

Several dozen family, staff and friends gathered for the event, many wearing shirts featuring pictures of Thomas. One of her sons, Nolan Wilson, 22, said the supermarket was like a “second family” to his mom.

“She just loved serving people, that’s what she liked to do. She liked putting smiles on people’s faces, she liked making sure that everybody got a good and full belly,” Nolan Wilson said. “But she loved Lamendola’s, she talked about it so much. This was going to be her career … she was going to retire here.”

Darnell Thomas, 20, said he and his siblings could always depend on their mom, and he especially remembered his mother’s support at graduation.

“They had called my name to get my diploma, and all I could hear, even though everybody was making so much noise, all I could hear was my momma saying, ‘That’s my baby! Yeah!’” he said. "She was so proud of me and my brother when we graduated, and with my sister graduating this year, and [Thomas] not being here, that’s going to have to push us closer. Like, we have to come through for our sister for her graduation year.”

Patricia Wilson added that the community’s support with the donation drive has provided a bit of comfort.

“This summer, that’s all she was talking about. It was my graduation, and prom, and how I’m going to get everything I want, and everything will be big. Like, that’s all she wanted to talk about,” she said. “She was telling me that I need to start picking colleges and this and that. Like, she was just so excited. So, to see other people excited for it, it helps.”

Darnell Thomas added that besides the supermarket donation drive, a GoFundMe drive to support the family and funeral expenses is available at gofund.me/a98449b5.

And from her perch on the memorial wall beneath a photo of Daphne Lamendola’s father, store customers will be able to see Thomas' smile for years to come.

“I think this is a perfect spot for her,” Lamendola added. “So, anytime everybody comes in from now on, she’s always with us. Look for Brenda. This is permanent; it’s not going anywhere.”