Tony Edward Branan

Tony Edward Branan, aged 86, passed away at home in Hiawassee, Georgia, on Friday, December 13, 2024. Tony was born in Cool Springs, Georgia, and raised on a farm; he relished telling childhood stories about curing tobacco, stoking the smokehouse fires, and shaking pecan trees for extra money. As a teenager Tony loved baseball, basketball, and dating his future wife, Betty Jean Roberts (from nearby Crosland). The couple married in 1958 and moved to California, where Tony served in the Army at Fort Ord.

Eventually Tony and Betty returned to Georgia, where Betty supported Tony through college and graduate school at the University of Georgia. As an electrical engineer, Tony enjoyed a thirty-year career at Georgia Power; highlights include managing the Safety and Health Department and specializing in OSHA regulations, skills Tony successfully leveraged when launching his own consulting business. 

Church involvement was always a huge priority for Tony. He served for many years as a deacon and choir member (tenor) at First Baptist, Stone Mountain, and after retiring with Betty to the north Georgia mountains, he taught Sunday School at McConnell Baptist in Hiawassee and First Baptist, Blairsville. During this later phase Tony and Betty traveled widely with newfound friends (to destinations such as the West Coast, Canada, and Alaska) and cherished their New Year’s Eve ritual of bridge with old companions from the Atlanta area.

Tony and Betty have two daughters, Sarita Boozer (Bob) and Tonita Branan, whose fondest memories of their father revolve around softball, hymn-singing, and Tony’s sly humor. He also leaves five grandchildren: Sarah Bell (Nick), Benjamin Thomas (Ori), William Brechtelsbauer, Laura Brechtelsbauer, and David Boozer, who adored him for boating on the lake, putt-putt, Chicken Foot, and endless rounds of ice cream. Finally, Tony and Betty have been blessed these last years with three great-grandchildren: Brooks Bell, Bane Thomas, and Lilah Thomas, who thrilled to Tony’s cooing and all ways he would convey “I love you,” even when physically diminished. He will be missed so very much. 

Tony is preceded in death by his parents, Nunan Caswell Branan and Maxie Graham Branan, his sisters, Agnes Whitehead, Ailene Branan, and Kate Robinson, and his brother, Carson Branan.

Visitation will be on Thursday, December 19, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. with service immediately following at Cool Springs Free Will Baptist Church (2559 Ellenton-Norman Park Rd, Norman Park, GA 31771).