SYLVANIA, Ga. — Mr. James William "Bill" Brannen, 88, of Sylvania, died Friday morning, June 1, 2012, in the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home, Augusta.
Bill was born in Bulloch County, Georgia, to the late Pleasant B. and Daisy Akins Brannen. His family lived on a farm, where he learned to plow, milk cows, feed chickens and cut wood. After he finished high school, he enrolled in the University of Georgia. April 6, 1943, 300 of him and his comrades reported to Fort McPherson in Atlanta. One hundred of those were sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, for basic training. After basic training, a group pulled a stint of duty at Fort Jackson, S.C., Fort Mead, Md., and Camp Mildstandish, Mass. November 1, 1943, he boarded a ship and sailed from Halifax, N.S., arriving in Liverpool, England, on November 8. On November 15, he and others joined Company I, 18th Infantry, which was stationed in Dorchester, England. He trained extensively for the invasion of France. On the morning of June 6, 1944, the L.C.I. carrying Company I hit the beach. He saw action and fought in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Czechoslovakia. When the war ended, he had earned five campaign ribbons, a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, a Silver Star, a Good Conduct ribbon and Combat Infantry Badge. He attained the rank of tech sergeant by the end of the war.
After returning home, he re-entered UGA in January 1946 and received his degree in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Husbandry. He enrolled in advanced RO TC while at UGA and received a reserve commission as second lieutenant in September 1947. He remained in the active reserves for 26 years and retired as a major. He was employed as county agricultural extension service agent for 30 years and retired April 1, 1979.
He was a member of the Sylvania Rotary Club, the Screven County Shrine Club, served on the board of directors of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Sylvania, was a member and former deacon of the First Baptist Church of Sylvania, the Faith Sunday School Class and the Road Runners.
Survivors include: his wife, Dorothy Scurry Brannen of Martinez, Ga; a daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth Anne B. and James Zuber of Knoxville, Tennessee; stepdaughters and sons-in-law, Nancy E. and Daniel Lang of Martinez and Retta E. and Rick Hester of Sylvania; a sister, Betty B. and Jones Akins of Tampa, Florida; a brother, Paul E. Brannen of Statesboro; grandchildren, Jason and Wendy Oliver and Daniel Oliver of Sylvania; four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Mr. Brannen will be held Monday, June 4, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Sylvania with Dr. Charlie Cooper officiating. Burial will be in the Screven County Memorial Cemetery.
Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home of Sylvania is in charge of all arrangements.
Statesboro Herald, June 3, 2012
Bill was born in Bulloch County, Georgia, to the late Pleasant B. and Daisy Akins Brannen. His family lived on a farm, where he learned to plow, milk cows, feed chickens and cut wood. After he finished high school, he enrolled in the University of Georgia. April 6, 1943, 300 of him and his comrades reported to Fort McPherson in Atlanta. One hundred of those were sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, for basic training. After basic training, a group pulled a stint of duty at Fort Jackson, S.C., Fort Mead, Md., and Camp Mildstandish, Mass. November 1, 1943, he boarded a ship and sailed from Halifax, N.S., arriving in Liverpool, England, on November 8. On November 15, he and others joined Company I, 18th Infantry, which was stationed in Dorchester, England. He trained extensively for the invasion of France. On the morning of June 6, 1944, the L.C.I. carrying Company I hit the beach. He saw action and fought in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Czechoslovakia. When the war ended, he had earned five campaign ribbons, a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, a Silver Star, a Good Conduct ribbon and Combat Infantry Badge. He attained the rank of tech sergeant by the end of the war.
After returning home, he re-entered UGA in January 1946 and received his degree in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Husbandry. He enrolled in advanced RO TC while at UGA and received a reserve commission as second lieutenant in September 1947. He remained in the active reserves for 26 years and retired as a major. He was employed as county agricultural extension service agent for 30 years and retired April 1, 1979.
He was a member of the Sylvania Rotary Club, the Screven County Shrine Club, served on the board of directors of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Sylvania, was a member and former deacon of the First Baptist Church of Sylvania, the Faith Sunday School Class and the Road Runners.
Survivors include: his wife, Dorothy Scurry Brannen of Martinez, Ga; a daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth Anne B. and James Zuber of Knoxville, Tennessee; stepdaughters and sons-in-law, Nancy E. and Daniel Lang of Martinez and Retta E. and Rick Hester of Sylvania; a sister, Betty B. and Jones Akins of Tampa, Florida; a brother, Paul E. Brannen of Statesboro; grandchildren, Jason and Wendy Oliver and Daniel Oliver of Sylvania; four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Mr. Brannen will be held Monday, June 4, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Sylvania with Dr. Charlie Cooper officiating. Burial will be in the Screven County Memorial Cemetery.
Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home of Sylvania is in charge of all arrangements.
Statesboro Herald, June 3, 2012
SYLVANIA, Ga. — Mr. James William "Bill" Brannen, 88, of Sylvania, died Friday morning, June 1, 2012, in the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home, Augusta.
Bill was born in Bulloch County, Georgia, to the late Pleasant B. and Daisy Akins Brannen. His family lived on a farm, where he learned to plow, milk cows, feed chickens and cut wood. After he finished high school, he enrolled in the University of Georgia. April 6, 1943, 300 of him and his comrades reported to Fort McPherson in Atlanta. One hundred of those were sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, for basic training. After basic training, a group pulled a stint of duty at Fort Jackson, S.C., Fort Mead, Md., and Camp Mildstandish, Mass. November 1, 1943, he boarded a ship and sailed from Halifax, N.S., arriving in Liverpool, England, on November 8. On November 15, he and others joined Company I, 18th Infantry, which was stationed in Dorchester, England. He trained extensively for the invasion of France. On the morning of June 6, 1944, the L.C.I. carrying Company I hit the beach. He saw action and fought in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Czechoslovakia. When the war ended, he had earned five campaign ribbons, a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, a Silver Star, a Good Conduct ribbon and Combat Infantry Badge. He attained the rank of tech sergeant by the end of the war.
After returning home, he re-entered UGA in January 1946 and received his degree in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Husbandry. He enrolled in advanced RO TC while at UGA and received a reserve commission as second lieutenant in September 1947. He remained in the active reserves for 26 years and retired as a major. He was employed as county agricultural extension service agent for 30 years and retired April 1, 1979.
He was a member of the Sylvania Rotary Club, the Screven County Shrine Club, served on the board of directors of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Sylvania, was a member and former deacon of the First Baptist Church of Sylvania, the Faith Sunday School Class and the Road Runners.
Survivors include: his wife, Dorothy Scurry Brannen of Martinez, Ga; a daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth Anne B. and James Zuber of Knoxville, Tennessee; stepdaughters and sons-in-law, Nancy E. and Daniel Lang of Martinez and Retta E. and Rick Hester of Sylvania; a sister, Betty B. and Jones Akins of Tampa, Florida; a brother, Paul E. Brannen of Statesboro; grandchildren, Jason and Wendy Oliver and Daniel Oliver of Sylvania; four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Mr. Brannen will be held Monday, June 4, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Sylvania with Dr. Charlie Cooper officiating. Burial will be in the Screven County Memorial Cemetery.
Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home of Sylvania is in charge of all arrangements.
Statesboro Herald, June 3, 2012
Bill was born in Bulloch County, Georgia, to the late Pleasant B. and Daisy Akins Brannen. His family lived on a farm, where he learned to plow, milk cows, feed chickens and cut wood. After he finished high school, he enrolled in the University of Georgia. April 6, 1943, 300 of him and his comrades reported to Fort McPherson in Atlanta. One hundred of those were sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, for basic training. After basic training, a group pulled a stint of duty at Fort Jackson, S.C., Fort Mead, Md., and Camp Mildstandish, Mass. November 1, 1943, he boarded a ship and sailed from Halifax, N.S., arriving in Liverpool, England, on November 8. On November 15, he and others joined Company I, 18th Infantry, which was stationed in Dorchester, England. He trained extensively for the invasion of France. On the morning of June 6, 1944, the L.C.I. carrying Company I hit the beach. He saw action and fought in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Czechoslovakia. When the war ended, he had earned five campaign ribbons, a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, a Silver Star, a Good Conduct ribbon and Combat Infantry Badge. He attained the rank of tech sergeant by the end of the war.
After returning home, he re-entered UGA in January 1946 and received his degree in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Husbandry. He enrolled in advanced RO TC while at UGA and received a reserve commission as second lieutenant in September 1947. He remained in the active reserves for 26 years and retired as a major. He was employed as county agricultural extension service agent for 30 years and retired April 1, 1979.
He was a member of the Sylvania Rotary Club, the Screven County Shrine Club, served on the board of directors of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Sylvania, was a member and former deacon of the First Baptist Church of Sylvania, the Faith Sunday School Class and the Road Runners.
Survivors include: his wife, Dorothy Scurry Brannen of Martinez, Ga; a daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth Anne B. and James Zuber of Knoxville, Tennessee; stepdaughters and sons-in-law, Nancy E. and Daniel Lang of Martinez and Retta E. and Rick Hester of Sylvania; a sister, Betty B. and Jones Akins of Tampa, Florida; a brother, Paul E. Brannen of Statesboro; grandchildren, Jason and Wendy Oliver and Daniel Oliver of Sylvania; four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Mr. Brannen will be held Monday, June 4, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Sylvania with Dr. Charlie Cooper officiating. Burial will be in the Screven County Memorial Cemetery.
Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home of Sylvania is in charge of all arrangements.
Statesboro Herald, June 3, 2012
Family Members
Siblings
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Inman Alexander Brannen
1905–1992
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Sara Selma Brannen Lanier
1907–1998
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Lucy Brannen Shearouse
1910–2001
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Eubie Brannen Anderson
1913–2007
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Pvt Pleasant Burton Brannen Jr
1915–1981
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John Hugh Brannen
1917–1995
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Daisy Pearl Brannen Gillis
1919–2001
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Mary Nell Brannen Lewis
1922–1982
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Paul Wesley Brannen
1927–2014
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Charles Alton "Jumbo" Brannen Sr
1931–2007
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