Class Notes

Sheri Y. Bowles, 52 of Maryville, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by family on January 7, 2024.  She is preceded in death by her grandfathers, Raymond Drake and Herman Brosz; grandmothers, Yvonne Brosz and Minnie Kay; aunt, Terry Rushton; uncle, Bill Larson; and cousins, Tammy Tate and Drew Pearson.

Sheri was born June 5, 1971, in Helena, MT, the daughter of Bill and Donna Brosz and sister to Christy Bare.  She grew up in Great Falls, MT and served as a member of the Montana Air National Guard for eight years.

Sheri married her blind date, Jeffrey M. Bowles, June 17, 1995.  Together they raised two beautiful children.  A daughter Kathryne G. Shillings and a son Tyler J. Bowles.

Sheri graduated from Maryville College in 2010 with her bachelor’s degree in education.  Shortly after graduation, she obtained her license in special education.  She was employed by Blount County Schools working at Mary Blount and Union Grove Elementary Schools.  She was a member of the National Education Association, a level 1 certified Wilson Reading System teacher and the 2017 Special Olympics Coach of the Year.  Sheri loved her “kids”, a note on her classroom wall reads, “My Legacy: Students will remember that I believe in them and encourage them to follow their dreams.  Each student should feel love and respect every day.”

Sheri enjoyed spending time with her family, baking, socializing, and watching tv shows with her children.  On warm days, she loved reading a book outside in the sun, admiring her flowers, watching hummingbirds and playing with her dog Pepper.

Her smile, her laughter, love and support will be missed but will live on in the memories and thoughts of her loved ones.  To know her was to love her.

Suzanne (Suzy) Boyd Jones Bowman born April 12, 1936 passed away Saturday, November 21, 2020 in Irmo, South Carolina. There will be a small burial service in Fort Jackson National Cemetery because of the pandemic with a memorial service at a later date. Suzy was born in Umatilla, FL on April 12, 1936. She was the daughter of the late Betty Boyd Jones and Paul Floyd Jones. She graduated from Elizabethton, TN High School, attended Maryville College, Maryville, TN and graduated from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA in Medical Technology. She worked in Staunton, VA and Knoxville, TN before becoming a full time homemaker and mother. She was a lifelong Presbyterian, serving in many capacities in different churches. She had been a member of Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church, Columbia, since 1995. She was married for 61 years to Harold Edward (Hal) Bowman. She moved around from Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, New Jersey, and Virginia before retiring to Irmo, SC in 1994. She leaves behind husband, Harold E. Bowman; son, James Harold (Carla Gray) Bowman of Melbourne, FL; daughter, Ann Elizabeth Bowman of Raleigh, NC; grandsons, William James Bowman of Vancouver, BC, Matthew Thomas Bowman (Annie) and great-grandchildren, Janie Marie, Jacob Matthew, and Jackson Harold Bowman, all of Bloomfield, IN.; and a sister, Patricia Claire Jones, of Oak Ridge, TN. She was predeceased by a sister, Betty Anne Jones and a great-granddaughter Jamie Addison Bowman. Memorials may be made to Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church, 530 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29210. Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.

Vera Elizabeth Ross Boyatt, age 95 of Maryville, passed away Thursday, March 2, 2022, at Brookdale Sandy Springs. She loved her family, traveling, hiking and the outdoors. Preceded in death by her husband, Rupert D. Boyatt; parents, Ben and Maude Ross; daughter, Mikki Boyatt; brothers, Tom, Paul, and Ben Ross. Survivors include her sons, Col. Mark Boyatt and wife Nancy; Michael Boyatt and wife Linda; grandchildren, Chris Boyatt and wife Meg, Ben Boyatt, James Boyatt and wife Casey, Ted Boyatt and Thomas Boyatt; great grandchildren, Evie Boyatt and Andrew Boyatt.

Dr. Richard W. Boyd passed away on April 3, 2016.

Jessie Dye Boyd, of Phoenixville, passed away on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. Services are private at the convenience of the family.

Loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, William F. “Bill” Boyd, 87, of Williamsburg, left this world to be with God on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

Bill was born December 10, 1936. He was witty, loving, adventurous, and curious about the world around him. He always kept his childlike sense of wonder. He was constantly satisfying his intellectual curiosities including astronomy, biology, and ornithology. Even after he lost his eyesight, he continued to enjoy books on tape, including biographies, documentaries, and world history. He earned two Master’s Degrees and a Doctorate simply because he loved to learn.

He was an avid traveler who sought to have authentic experiences with all those he met. He loved trekking in Nepal. He developed a sweet friendship with his Sherpa guide and corresponded with him throughout the years. He walked the Great Wall of China, explored his Scottish ancestry in Scotland and was amazed by the stunning beauty of Norway’s fjords. His life was enriched by the people he met and the beauty of God’s creation. He passed down his love of travel, for which his family is forever grateful.

He spoke with an economy of language; when he had something to say, listeners would hang on every word. His words were intentional. He encouraged. He challenged, but most importantly, he listened. People were drawn to him because he had a way of making them feel truly seen. His dry wit put others at ease and carried him through the many physical challenges he experienced as he grew older. He felt that there was no point in complaining. It was better to just take one day at time and depend upon God’s abundant mercies.

He had a deep, personal faith in God that sustained him throughout his life. He shared his faith with others as a servant leader. He spent his last days wondering what heaven would be like. He desired to sit beneath the Tree of Life, alongside the river of grace.

Music was a very integral part of his life. He especially loved classical and choral music. He spent his last days listening to Mozart adagios and sacred hymns. They were a balm to his spirit and filled him with peace.

He shared a love with his wife, Carole, of 63 years that was rare, unbreakable, and stood the test of time. He was a father who shaped the hearts of his daughters. He was a grandfather who was loved, admired, and revered. He was a valued friend to many.

He lovingly cared for his family throughout his life. He is survived by his beloved wife, Carole: two children, Sharon Boyd and her husband Bill, and Deborah Gainer and her husband Joe; plus four grandchildren – Michael and his wife Katie, Sarah, Will, and Kate.

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Olive D. Boyer, passed away on September 18, 2014 in Edgewater, Florida, leaving to mourn family and friends.

Former Mayor Carl Boyer III, teacher, genealogist, historian, author, philanthropist and City of Santa Clarita founding father, died Wednesday morning. He was 81. Boyer had been in declining health and most recently was in hospice in Saugus, not far from his residence there. "Our father is the best man we've ever known," Boyer's three daughters, Michèle, Denise and Danielle, said in a joint statement Wednesday afternoon. "He has been steadfast in all of his endeavors and has never wavered. His life goal was simple and profound: He wanted to be a useful member of society. There is no better role model than our father, Carl Boyer." Boyer and his wife Chris moved to the Santa Clarita Valley in the 1960s to raise their family but soon concluded that Los Angeles County politicians in faraway downtown L.A. were less than responsive when it came to issues affecting the SCV. By decade's end, he was pushing his SCV neighbors to break away from L.A. County by forming a new county whose leaders would be more local. The bid to form Canyon County in 1976 and again in 1978 won voter approval within the Santa Clarita Valley but needed the support of voters across the county, which didn't come. Undaunted, Boyer pushed for cityhood instead and became the first chairman of the City of Santa Clarita Formation Committee in late 1986. He guided the process that resulted in Santa Clarita's incorporation as a city on December 15, 1987, won a seat on the first Santa Clarita City Council, and served two terms as mayor before he retired from office in 1998. Boyer documented the route to cityhood in his acclaimed book, "Santa Clarita: The Formation and Organization of the Largest Newly Incorporated City in the History of Humankind," first published in 2005, with a second edition published in 2015. According to the book's "About the Author" introduction, Boyer was born in Philadelphia in 1937, was educated at Nether Providence High School in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, Maryville College in Tennessee, The Edinburgh University in Scotland, Trinity University in Texas (B.A. in history), the University of Cincinnati (M.Ed. in secondary education), and other graduate schools. Boyer married Chris Kruse in 1962, and they had three children: Michèle Boyer, Denise (married first to the late Scotty Plummer, then to Russ Johnson, and mother of Kylen Plummer), and Danielle (mother of Riana and Aidan Vermillion). Wife Chris predeceased him last year. Boyer taught 40 years in public schools in Texas, Kentucky, Ohio and California, including 35 years at San Fernando High School (1963-1998). In 1969, as a result of serving on the Del Prado condominium owners association, he became interested in forming a local government. It was not easy for a small population in what was then a rural area to communicate with the staff of the largest county in the world. Boyer served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Santa Clarita Community College District from 1973 to 1981 (president, 1979-1981) and as a director of the former Castaic Lake Water Agency from 1982 to 1984. Boyer was also a noted genealogist who authored more than a dozen popular books on the family genealogy. During the 1960s, he was encouraged by his mother-in-law and her family to research and publish "Slade-Babcock Genealogy," the first of about a dozen distinct titles in the field. All were self-published and profitable. As he is descended from Count Boso IV of Arles, Boyer could say with a straight face that he is from "a long line of Bosos." He spoke at a number of genealogical seminars throughout the western United States, and was the American Key Speaker at the World Mayors' Conference in Jaipur, India, in 1998. The Boyers were involved in hosting the first group of Soviet high school students visiting Southern California in 1990, and arranging college scholarships for some of them. At that time he was one of the founders of the Santa Clarita Valley International Program. With his wife Chris, who did much of the work, he was active in caring for children brought to the United States for donated medical treatment by Healing the Children. Kids from Colombia, Guatemala, Russia, Mexico and Ecuador have recuperated from open-heart surgery and other operations in the Boyers' home before being reunited with their families. In addition, he served as a gofer for an open-heart surgery team in Ecuador, and for a team that traveled repeatedly to Estelí, Nicaragua, to perform eye surgeries. Since his retirement in 1998, Boyer continued to push to get Santa Clarita more involved in the world. He visited more than 140 countries (many of them as a chaperone of student groups) and both of Santa Clarita's sister cities, Tena in Ecuador and Sariaya in the Philippines. He also served as a volunteer consultant to Sofia, Bulgaria, and Bandung Regency, Indonesia. Boyer remained convinced that many governments are too big for us to manage. "Had I not been fearful of losing a few hundred dollars that my wife Chris and I had invested in buying our first home, I might never have become involved in community affairs and politics," he wrote in the book's foreword. Yet Boyer would not overstate his role in Santa Clarita's cityhood: "In any event, the City of Santa Clarita would have been born roughly when it was, but I would not have been involved and I would probably have spent the last few years working on another book on family history." Tribute from Laurene Weste, Santa Clarita City Council member "Carl was the most gracious, determined man I think I ever met," said Santa Clarita City Councilwoman Laurene Weste, who was Boyer's appointee as Parks Commissioner for nearly his entire tenure on the City Council, from 1988-1998. "He had a way of strongly pushing forward with what he believed in, but he was always gracious about it," she said. "There were just things Carl knew we had to do, and he firmly believed that we had the talent, the drive, and the will to create a very strong and healthy city and have everything that the public here wanted and deserved, and I commend him for his extreme and extraordinary efforts," Weste said. "He went to Sacramento and worked really hard to create Canyon County," she said of Boyer's 1970s secession bids. "He was aware of the planning and work we needed to do to remain a very special community, and that we had to have a different and closer form of government. I think everyone was devastated when that effort failed. "But after that, Carl was very strongly an advocate in creating a city," Weste said. "He literally helped put the city of Santa Clarita together. He believed in self-governance, and that as a community with our own government, we would be able to do what couldn't be done any other way. He was so committed to this community, and there are so many things as a city founder that he made sure we got. He did great things. I strongly believe he made a tremendous difference in our valley." Boyer, in fact, encouraged Weste to apply for the city's Parks Commission in 1988. She was appointed and served for a decade until she was elected to the City Council in 1998 – after he encouraged her to run. "Carl said, 'You have to do this,'" Weste said. "'If you value the system of creating a natural environment out there and open spaces, if you care about our history, old town, trails, beautiful parks,' he said, 'you have to keep working to keep it going.' "He loved nature and was committed to having the best of the best for this community," she said. "Carl helped stop the huge landfill that was going in Towsley Canyon, where we now have Ed Davis Park. He supported me in working with Senator Ed Davis to create the Santa Clarita Woodlands Park, which is wonderful because he knew that we had to do that. "Open space, the trails – all those things I've worked on all the way through since then were things that Carl supported," Weste said. "I deeply appreciate that he allowed me to continue to work on all of the things he believed in and that I think are some of the best parts of our community." Not all of Boyer's visions for Santa Clarita would get past the envisioning stage, though. "The only thing I ever teased him about was when he wanted to renumber all the houses in Santa Clarita, so we wouldn't have these long L.A. County numbers," Weste said. "He thought we ought to have a simpler numbering system, like 624 Main, instead of these numbers that start from Downtown L.A.," she said, similar to Beverly Hills or Santa Monica. "It was cute because Carl says, 'Well, it'll just be classy.' He was right, but people don't want to change their addresses, so it didn't happen." Boyer's four decades of teaching school and his later philanthropic work on behalf of international students and disabled children exemplified his love for young people, Weste said. "He loved kids – he was a teacher and really did work to mentor," she said. "That makes such a difference in children's lives. I helped Carl work on (fundraising for) the Santa Clarita Valley International Program to save children and bring children here from other countries. He and his wife worked very hard on that. "They brought children here who were badly incapacitated and would care for them to get them to surgeries and things that wouldn't happen in other countries," Weste said. "These children were basically just castaways, but he and Chris just gave their love and hearts and support, and helped save children." Memorial services are in the planning stages for the weekend of June 22-23.

Elizabeth Boyer passed away on October 2, 2016.

Lois Marie Boynton, 86, passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2018. A native of New York, she was born February 1, 1931 to the late William Gerald and Mary Agusta Wheeler Layton. On September 3, 1960, Marie wed the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Boynton in Lengriese, Germany, where she was working in the Special Services Division of the US Army. They would later have 2 children together, and ultimately a grandson. Marie was known as a very kind woman; always placing other’s needs in front of her own. She was a devoted wife and mother, sewing her family’s clothes, she was always sure to provide dinner for her family every Sunday (even after she was unable to cook), and genuinely interested in everyone’s daily lives. Marie was a librarian, a very smart and artistic woman; she played the piano and enjoyed playing the organ at church, as well as teaching Sunday school. She loved to read, work crossword puzzles, and Sudoku. Marie was a gardener, often having more plants in the house than outside and had a soft heart for stray animals, domestic or wild. In addition to her husband of 57 years, Marie leaves behind her daughter, Bonnie Sue Boynton, Lexington; son, Andrew James (Maureen) Boynton, Colorado Springs, CO; sister, Helen (Albert P. Stauderman) McKenzie, Washington, D.C.; brother, William John Layton, Lexington; and grandson, McKail James David Boynton, CO. A Memorial Service was held January 13, 2018 at Clark Legacy Center, Brannon Crossing.

Pamela Brackbill, age 65, of Alma, passed away Monday, June 15, 2020 at the Masonic Pathways in Alma. Pam was born October 4, 1954 in Salem County, NJ, the daughter of Gordon and Patricia (Runda) Thomson. She married Rev. R. Thomas Brackbill on June 26, 1976 in Jamesburg, NJ. Pam was an elementary music teacher for many years. She was an active member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters working as a match specialist. She is survived by her family: Rev. Tom Brackbill, Karen (Stephen Riddle) Brackbill, David (Megan) Brackbill, Daniel Brackbill, Elizabeth Smith and Craig (Angela) Thomson. Pam was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law, Al Smith. A private memorial will be held, but the family encourages Pam’s friends to submit their favorite memory of her. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lux-Moody-Wolfel Funeral Home, Alma. To view Pam’s obituary or to leave a message or memory for the family, please visit www.luxfuneralhomes.com.

Passed away on January 9, 2009.

Margaret Gwendolyn (Gwen) Greenlee Bradsher of Old Fort, NC passed away Monday, February 5, 2018 at Rose Hill Retirement Community in Marion, NC. She was born July 20, 1926 to Thomas James Greenlee and Margaret Kern Greenlee at the W. H. Greenlee home place in McDowell County. She was the great niece of Mary, Ruth and Nina Greenlee and the great, great, great, great granddaughter of James Greenlee, (American Revolution solider) and Mary McDowell Greenlee and a former member of the Greenlee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Gwen grew up in McDowell County, graduated from Pleasant Gardens School, Maryville College and Kansas City General Hospital School of Medical Technology. On September 2, 1951 she married Hugh Tate Bradsher and they had four daughters. In 1960 she began her career with NC Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC as a Research Assistant & Certified Microbiologist Specialist for the National Institute of Health. In 1963 she began working as a Med Tech in the hospital’s Microbiology lab and as a Clinical Microbiology Instructor at the hospital’s School of Medical Technology. In 1993, after a 33 year career, she retired from NC Baptist Hospital and returned to McDowell County to fulfill her dream of restoring the original Greenlee home place – Grove Hill. During these years she enjoyed tending to her flower & vegetable gardens and growing blueberries. One of the greatest pleasures during her retirement was her bridge club, her church and reconnecting with all her extended family and high school classmates. She is predeceased by her brother Robert Greenlee and sister Mary Jo Enloe. She is survived by her daughters, Leslie Tate Bradsher of Old Fort; Carol Bradsher (George), Mary Tew (David), Nina Barker (Charlie); grandchildren, Adam & Christopher Tew, Ben & Thomas Barker; her brothers James K. Greenlee of Atlanta, GA and Harvey Daniel Greenlee of Houston, TX; several nieces and nephews, Greenlee, Tate and Kern cousins as well as her beloved friend and caregiver, Donna Gwaltney. The family would like to express their gratitude and thanks to Donna Gwaltney, Brenda Freeman, the staff of Rose Hill Retirement Community and Hospice of Rutherford County who loving cared for her during her final years and days. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 10th at 1pm at Siloam Presbyterian Church, Old Fort, NC. In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be made to Siloam Presbyterian Church, Hospice of Rutherford County, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, Healing Hearts Animal Rescue

Maryville, TN – On Monday, December 23, 2019, Ellen Brahams, loving mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother passed away at the age of 91. Ellen Collins Brahams was born February 12, 1928 in Montgomery, Alabama. She graduated from Maryville College in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in elementary education. She was a dedicated educator, teaching for thirty two years. Ellen was an outstanding member of New Providence Presbyterian Church and was dedicated to serving her community. She was an avid quilter – making quilts galore including one for each of her grandchildren. You would never find Ellen without her paper mate pencil and crossword puzzle…until her ipad replaced her newspaper. An independent woman who loved to travel, golf and eat chocolate. She will be greatly missed. Ellen was preceded in death 38 years ago by her husband Raymond “Brick” Brahams. Survivors include sister and brother in law, Emily & Pat O’Hara of Moorehead City, NC, son David and wife Teri Brahams of Alcoa, TN, granddaughter Caryn and husband Gary Ellis of Johnson City, TN, daughter Leigh, her husband David Westcott of Atlanta, GA and her grandchildren, Collins with wife Lindsay and Carly Westcott, great grandchildren Syndey and Carter Westcott. A memorial service will be held at New Providence Presbyterian Church (703 W Broadway Ave, Maryville, TN 37801) on December 27, 2019 at 3:00pm. Receiving of family and friends immediately following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers the family ask that gifts be made to Maryville College (www.maryvillecollege.edu/giving/give-today/) or New Providence Presbyterian Church (newprovidencepres.org/donate/)

passed away on Monday May 5th, 2014. Survivors include Husband, Bill Brake, sisters Meriam Anderson and Devida King, daughter, Laura, son and daughter in law David and Brenda along with 2 grandsons, Joshua and Jordan.

Don Brakebill, born October, 1931, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, June 9th, 2019. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Haynes Brakebill and Myrtle Ingle Brakebill. Don was a leader in our local music community contributing to many lives through his teachings. He was reared on a farm in Rockford where he developed a love for horses, tractors, the Little River and the land. His love of music, with a focus on the voice, provided opportunities throughout his life that would be honored for years to come. Don received his BA in Music at Maryville College and a Master’s degree in voice and conducting at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. He served as choir director at First Baptist Church in Maryville, Trinity Methodist Church in Knoxville and New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville. He served as a Cantor at Temple Beth El in Knoxville for several years. Don taught vocal music in the Alcoa school system and also organized the Chilhowee Singers, which he directed for 3 years. Throughout his professional career, Don also performed as a soloist in Oratorio and Opera performances at the University of Tennessee, Maryville College and Knoxville Opera while maintaining a full-time roster of private voice training. As a musician, Don had an unwavering belief that everyone could sing, whether they believed it or not. He taught every student with a unique approach suited best to his or her temperament and level of skill, drawing upon his knack for creating analogies related to his own upbringing on his farm in Rockford. Fence posts, birds landing on power lines, and a running favorite, “it’s like singing in a silo”… embedded in all of these images were valuable insights on how to sing, and his joy in expressing them was contagious. It was this mixture of refined Princeton education and simple Rockford wisdom that distinguished Don as a truly unique and gifted voice teacher and choir director. He had many hobbies including woodworking in his later years, but never stopped singing and spending time on the farm. He had a legendary sense of humor and love of people, but also never had a bad meal. He loved good food and was always gracious and complimentary both of every meal as well as to whomever had prepared it whether it be a simple sandwich or a holiday feast, especially if followed by dessert. Don is survived by his wife of 37 years, Charlotte Barker Brakebill, son Greg Brakebill (Linda), daughter Traci Topham (Tim), step-son Michael Kull and step daughter Christine Vossler (Christian). He enjoyed his grandchildren Emily Sweetland (David), Drew Brakebill (Miranda), Sydney Topham and enjoyed a special relationship with his last grandchild, Bailey Cummings. Don also had 3 great-grandchildren, Dawson and Ella Sweetland and Gracie Sue Brakebill. Special thanks to the entire staff at Brookdale Memory Care, Sandy Springs facility, for their wonderful care and community they provided for our family. Don’s life was honored on Tuesday, June 18th at First United Methodist Church, Maryville with receiving of friends at 4 p.m. and service at 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Alzheimer’s Tennessee, 5801 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 or the charity of your choice.

60, a resident of Albuquerque, NM went to be with the Lord on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at Ladera Nursing home in Albuquerque. Bev was born on October 1, 1952 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Roland and Martha Branham. She was a Registered Nurse who worked with Hogares Group Home. She loved her cat Oscar and enjoyed talking about the Bible. Beverly also received a Bachelors Degree in Art from Maryville College in 1976. She will be greatly missed by her loving family and by those whose hearts she touched. She is survived by her loving brothers and sister, Roland H. Branham and wife Alta, Robert “Bobby” H. Branham and wife Morayma, and Shirley Branham; nieces and nephews, Kaici Branham, Justine Branham, Brisa Mireles, Miguel Mireles, Brenda Mireles and husband Mario Avitia, Daniel “Danny” Mireles, Whitney Balderrama-Branham, Shawn Forte, Dewey Pollock, Steven Martinez and Miquella Martinez; great-niece, Andrea Avitia; many other loving family members and friends from Cincinnati, OH. Beverly will be greatly missed by her loving family and by those whose hearts she touched. A memorial service was held at Terrazas Funeral Chapels on Friday, November 30, 2012 with Pastor, Paul Temple reciting.

David Harrison Brannum, Jr., the youngest child of David Harrison Brannum, Sr. and Anne Black Brannum, went to be with his Heavenly Father on April 10, 2021. He was 92 years old. He was a member of Second United Methodist Church and a 1946 graduate of Knoxville High School. He graduated from Maryville College in 1954 with a Business degree. He was a Korean War veteran, serving as SFC in the 4th Infantry Division, 8th Regimental Combat Team from September 1950 to August 1952. He worked in sales and management for over 40 years. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Captain Robert E. Brannum and William D. Brannum; six sisters, Dorothy Correll, Ruth Cooke, Toddy Eldridge, Mildred Bosson, Mary Fowler and Nell O’Fallon. Survivors, wife of 70 years, Betty Boone Brannum; son, Joe (Julie); grandchildren, Blake (Angie) Johnson, Bethany (Corey) Schultz, Logan Johnson, John Brannum, Jake Brannum and Brian (Alivia) Brannum; great-grandchildren, Carter and Emery Kate Johnson, Kylie and Caden Schultz and Kenidee, Cole and Carson Brannum. Graveside services will be at Woodlawn Cemetery on Tuesday, April, 13, 2021 at 11:00am with Rev. Charla Sherbakoff officiating. Memorials may be made to SUMC, 1924 Western Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37921. Condolences may be offered at www.berryfuneralhome.com.

Margaret Helen Brasfield 97 of Quinton, Alabama passed away peacefully at her home after a long illness on Aug 31, 2014. She was born in 1917 to Flora and Ferris Keys in Haleyville Alabama. Surviving her are 3 nieces; Bonnie Ellis Evans and Elizabeth (Betsy) Ellis Ormond of Birmingham, Kristie Sandver Perez of Camby Oregon. On the Brasfield side 2 nieces, Nancy Brasfield Jordon and Mary Ann Ingram of AL and 4 nephews; Jim & John Brasfield of AL, Raul de la Vega of NC and Ron de la Vega of TN, along with many great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews on both sides. She was a lifelong member of Quintown Church of Christ. Having no biological children of her own, she was a wonderful inspiration of her love for Christ to her family and friends. She frequently spoke of adults who had been in her Sunday school classes through the years. She loved all children and they all loved her in return. She graduated from West Jefferson High School and went on to fill in as a part time substitute teacher for several years. She was always interested in her church, home and community. A special thanks and gratitude to her cousin Mary Isom Reynolds who was there for her until the end, her friend Finley Tuggle and to her care givers Linda Lanier, Betty Leslie and Joyce Adelman and to all the UMWA health care doctors and providers. Interment is at Quintown Church of Christ Cemetery.

Virginia Montgomery Breazeale, age 97, of Lenoir City passed away Thursday, July 9, 2020. She was a member of First Baptist Church and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, William Mack Breazeale; parents, A.C. and Margaret Montgomery; brother, Andrew C. Montgomery Jr., and sister, Lucy Cusick. Survived by her; children and spouses, Kaye and Ed Houk of Nashville, Vicki and Jim Cobble of Los Alamos, NM, Martha and Noel Brown of Charlotte, NC, Don and Pam Breazeale of Lenoir City; grandchildren: Lara Riggs of Nashville, Amy Brady of Jackson, TN, Jeff Cobble of Nashville, Andy Cobble of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Adam Breazeale of Newbury Port, MA, Jason Breazeale of Dayton, OH, and Amanda Breazeale of Lenoir City; 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Betty Wildman and Vivan Clark along with several nieces and nephews. The family would like to express a heartfelt thanks to the staff of Morning Pointe Lenoir City and especially Katerina, Deborah and Val for all the care and compassion they have given. Friends may call at their convenience on Sunday, July 12 at Click Funeral Home in Lenoir City. Private graveside services will be held on Monday. Virginia loved to support the Pat Summit Foundation in honor of her family members who suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. Please consider making a donation in her memory to the Pat Summitt Foundation, 520 W. Summit Hill Dr., Suite 1101, Knoxville, TN 37902 or First Baptist Church Building Fund, 2085 Simpson Road E., Lenoir City, TN 37771. Click Funeral Home in Lenoir City is in charge of arrangements. clickfuneralhome.com

80, of Huntsville, passed away Wednesday October 29, 2014. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Anna Mae Holland Breen, and sister, Julia Clark. Mr. Breen graduated from Maryville College in 1955 and entered Marine Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA. He served in the US Marine Corp in the US and abroad. He was honorably discharged and promoted to the rank of Captain. Mr. Breen assisted in organizing the first Better Business Bureau in Huntsville, AL. He was self- employed in the personnel staffing and recruiting business, and was a charter member and captain of the Huntsville Quarterback Club. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Scottie; sons, Mark Breen and Harold Breen and wife, Valeria; granddaughters, Amanda Price and husband, Brandon, and Erica and Anna Marie Breen; and great-granddaughter, Rylee Scott Price. – See more at: http://obits.al.com/obituaries/huntsville/obituary.aspx?n=william-breen-bill&pid=173011978&fhid=5535&eid=sp_ommatch&eid=sp_ommatch#sthash.hOl0BAYR.dpuf

Please join us as we celebrate the life of Sandra Marchant Brennan, Saturday, July 10th at 1:00 at First Christian Church – Disciples of Christ, Tuscaloosa. Sandra was born October 6, 1957 and died January 8, 2021 of COVID. Sandra was preceded in death by her mother, Billie Brennan, father, David K Brennan and a nephew, Daniel Barger. She is survived by her Stepmother, Exir Brennan, Sisters, Susan Brennan Barger and Sharon Brennan, nephews and nieces, David & Lauren Barger, Alan Barger & Haley Faulkner, Allison & Jimbo Turk and Garrett Carmichael. She is also survived by a very special great nephew, William Charles Barger. Sandra was very active at First Christian Church and served as the leader of Christian Children’s Fellowship for many years. She was very active in the choir and was blessed with a beautiful singing voice. Sandra had a huge personality, a dry sense of humor and loved life. She loved being surrounded by her family and friends. She was loved and will be missed.

William “Willie” Brickey, of Townsend, TN peacefully passed away on April 24, 2021 at the age of 91. A graduate of Maryville College and the University of Tennessee, Willie worked for the Blount County School system for 40 years. Prior to retiring in 1993, he was the Counselor at Townsend and Heritage High Schools. Willie was a long-standing member of Tuckaleechee United Methodist Church and a volunteer at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center where he shared authentic mountain games with school children. Willie was predeceased by his parents, Leigh and Belva Brickey of Townsend and was the last surviving of his 8 siblings. He is survived by Alda, his wife of 68 years, and daughters Amy Conroy (Michael) and Bonnie Walker (Rick). Willie was also the proud grandfather of Anne Conroy, Amy Conroy and Bailey Lohr. A special thanks to all the people who have provided care to Willie for the last period of his life: Darlene Brewer, Sharon Plemons, Sharon Clark and Joan Ownby. A graveside service will be held at 3:00 PM on Monday, April 26, 2021 at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Townsend, TN. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Tuckaleechee United Methodist Church, 7322 Old Tuckaleechee Rd, Townsend, TN 37882 or the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, 123 Cromwell Dr, Townsend, TN 37882. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, 983-1000, www.SmithLifeandLegacy.com

Carol Anne (Paris) Bridge, of Baton Rouge, LA, passed away Monday, August 2, 2021, after a battle with cancer. Born on May 31, 1955, in Owensboro, KY, she was a graduate of Owensboro High School (1973) and Maryville College, in Maryville, TN (1977). Carol worked for many years for LCR Corporation before her retirement. She had a love for her family, going to the beach, traveling to the Smokey Mountains, and a passion for helping others. In addition, she was an accomplished pianist and played at her church for many years. Carol was preceded in death by her father, Dr. Gus Paris of Owensboro, KY. She is survived by her mother Elizabeth Paris of Frisco, TX (formerly Owensboro, KY), two sons, Justin Bridge of Austin, TX and Jonathan Bridge of New York City, NY, two sisters and a brother, Jane (Rod) Cable of De Soto, MO, Mary Simmons of Wilmington, NC, and John (Delynn) Paris of Frisco, TX, and several nieces and nephews. The family will have a private memorial service in Frisco, TX on Friday, August 6. There will be no visitation. The family requests that expressions of sympathy be given in the form of donations to the Dr. Gus E. Paris scholarship fund at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY or to the American Cancer Society.

passed on September 8, 2015 at the age of 78 after a brief illness. A resident of Clintonville since 1969, Carol was preceded in death by her beloved husband, V. Bernard Brigham, and her parents, F. Mason and Elizabeth (Porter) Morgan. She is survived by her son, Andrew Brigham; daughter, Elizabeth Brigham, (husband, Jay Lowell); sister, Emily E. Morgan (Doug Rader); brothers, Noel (Lydia), Byron (Mary Jane) and Rick (Nancy) Morgan; sister-in-law, Beneth (Brigham) Morrow; grandchildren, Emma and Sarah Lowell; nephews, Gibson and Craig Morrow and Michael Morgan; nieces, Tracy Morrow Gentleman and Maisha Morgan; a broad extended family and many very, very close friends. Carol grew up in Prenter, West Virginia, graduated from Maryville College with a degree in psychology, and lived in Syracuse, NY and Zanesville, OH before settling into her beloved Clintonville home, where she gave tirelessly of herself to the community. She was a 40-year member and committee chair of the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus, and most recently worked with the League of Women Voters Educational Fund. She was a founding member of The Center for New Directions, an organization that serves women in crisis from domestic violence, divorce, or job displacement. A fierce advocate for others who did not have a voice in the community, Carol worked with the Housing Opportunity Center, the Godman Guild, and the Columbus Metropolitan Club. She served on various committees for the city of Columbus that advocated for women’s rights, equal housing opportunities for all people, and equal voting rights. Carol was a fierce advocate for others who did not have a voice in the community. She also was a founding board member of WFAC, the first alternative FM radio station in Columbus. Carol was the first Woman’s Issues Coordinator at the North Central Mental Health Center, an organization her husband V. Bernard helped found. She retired after 18 years at the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services, where she planned job-training programs.