Willie Jerry Brannon, Jr., born January 16, 1934, in Hawkinsville, GA to Willie Jerry Brannon and Inez Rebecca Marshall Brannon, passed away August 29,2024 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s & Heart disease. He was a loving husband, father, grandpa, son, and brother during his amazing 90 years of life. In his final years, Mr. Brannon was a resident of Brevard County spending his last 2 years at ZON Assisted Living in Indian Harbor Beach Florida, where he was well cared for and loved by all who encountered his jovial spirit.
Jerry was the eldest of seven siblings. As a teenager, he was counted on to help the family of South Georgia. He quickly learned the meaning of family responsibilities by being tasked with various family chores and farming duties. Continuing to support his family, at the age of seventeen he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving his country in Chattaroy France. Upon returning to the States, he was eventually able to land a coveted Civil Service position at Eglin AFB, Florida, putting his Air Force skills and experience to use as a Tabulating Machine Operator and then as an IBM Main Frame Digital Computer Systems Operator.
He met the love of his life, Elvia, a beautiful Air Force Tabulating Machine Operator assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. They were married on August 23, 1959, in Beebe, Arkansas. The young couple settled in Niceville, Florida to begin their lives together. They built a loving home and had their children, Michael, and Myra. Jerry successfully advanced in his career at Eglin starting as a GS-3 and eventually promoting to a GS-11, Supervisory Digital Computer Systems Operator, Section Chief, Mathematical Services Lab, Computer Operations Branch in 1974.
During the 70’s mainframe digital computer technical experts were in high demand enabling Jerry to continue his federal service in the Panama Canal Zone arriving Oct 1974. He was hired as a Supervisory Computer Technician of the Data Processing Division of the Panama Canal Company, a US Federal Agency. This challenging move to the tropics of the Panama Canal Zone was highly influenced by his wife, Elvia, wanting to reconnect with her biological father, aunt and uncle who helped raise her as a young child, and other relatives in Panama, while also connecting Myra and Michael with their Panamanian heritage. Taking this leap of faith by relocating overseas was a testament to Jerry’s caring and adventurous spirit.
Jerry excelled in his field eventually attaining the position of Chief, Central Computer Operations Branch, Panama Canal Commission. He was also temporarily appointed as Division Chief, Central Computer Operations Division. After over 30 years of distinguished dedicated federal civil service, Jerry retired in May of 1984 at the ripe old age of 49. He and Elvia moved from the Panama Canal Zone to ten acres of the peaceful rolling countryside of Pecan Acres of Bastrop, TX where they built their forever home and became Texans for 34 years. Jerry’s passion was enjoying nature. He loved working on his land and had many successful years of gardening (farming). He grew multitudes of various fruits and vegetables, canning or donating the excess harvested crops. Jerry and Elvia even cultivated a “small” vineyard resulting in numerous years of their very own fine wine production.
Jerry was also a devoted husband enjoying 58 loving years of marriage with Elvia. His heart was overjoyed having his children and four grandchildren Jonathan and Kristin, Brandon and Chelsea visit at Pecan Acres, Texas. He enjoyed sharing his love of the land with them including giving them rides on his beloved antique John Deere tractor.
Jerry was a dedicated and proud 32nd Degree Master Mason of Herman Lodge Number 108 of Freeport, Florida, and while in the Panama Canal Zone an active Abusad Temple Shriner International member. He earned his 60-year certificate and pin from the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Florida in 2023.
Mr. Brannon is preceded in death by his father and mother, five brothers, Charles Brannon, Lewis Brannon, Ronnie Brannon, Ted Brannon and Dwight Brannon and sister Ann Brannon Tuttle, as well as his loving wife, Elvia (Tweedy) Brannon and his son Michael Jerry Brannon.
Mr. Brannon is survived by his daughter Myra Ann Brannon Grimison, son-in-law Patrick Grimison, grandsons, Jonathan Brannon and Brandon Grimison and granddaughters, Kristin Brannon, and Chelsea Grimison, and great-granddaughter twins Lena and Kennedy Brannon.