Regina Hart died gently and peacefully in the compassionate care of Hendrick Hospice, surrounded by her family on October 20, 2020, after a long illness.
Regina was born February 10, 1958, to the late Elma and Phillip Pender Jr. in Mansfield, Ohio, where she grew up before moving to Abilene, Texas in 1985. She retired from the Abilene Independent School District and had continued substitute teaching as she was able. Students were often overheard saying how excited they were to have her as a teacher “We’re getting Mrs. Hart today!”
Many of her former students often came to her classroom to visit even during and after high school. She also assisted in after-school programs at the Abilene YMCA. She reached hundreds of children during her teaching career. Her door and her heart were always open to listen without judgment to anyone who needed a sympathetic ear.
Throughout her life, she was a talented writer and performer. She had participated in high school plays and community theater at The Mansfield Playhouse. In the last few years, she reconnected to her first passion and appeared twice in The Vagina Monologues at the Black Box Theater. She was also a founding member of The Writer’s Mark Writing and Performance Group. Family and friends enjoyed listening to her poetry and her infectious laugh. Her vivacious sense of humor provided the right platform for her stand-up comedy at the Zone and The Hallows, where she regaled her audiences with family stories that brought on much laughter. Her colleagues said it was an absolute joy to watch her blossom as a performer.
She is survived by her husband of 35 years Clarence Hart and her daughter Jessica and son Andrew Hart. She is also survived by her brothers Tony Pender of Marion, OH, Fred (Vicki) Pender of San Diego, CA, Terry Pender of Ft. Wayne, IN, Rick (Emily) Pender of Columbus, OH, and Randy Pender of Mansfield, OH, and her aunt Annie Jean Shaw of Brownsville, TN.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers John Pender and Tyrone Pender, her aunt Clydell Cynthia Smith, her niece Alia Pender, her nephew Shalen Pender, and her great-nephew Jakeel Javontae Amsbaugh.
She leaves to cherish and rejoice in her memory a host of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, and dearly beloved friends.
The family will welcome friends for Regina’s Celebration of Life on Saturday, November 7, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00noon for fellowship at the Imani Activity and Event Center 486 Springmill St. Mansfield, OH 44903 followed by a private family and close friends’ committal service. Reverend Larry Rawls will officiate the service.
** COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place.The Pender and Hart family would like to express their gratitude to all Regina’s caregivers and friends for their outpouring of love and support during her long illness.
In place of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Texas Kidney Foundation at txkidney.org.
