Emma Jean Brandon

Finished her earthly journey on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at the age of 92 years. Emma Jean (Gardner) Brandon was born on December 15, 1922 in Weldon, Arkansas, the daughter of Walter and Ora Gardner. She grew up on her parent’s farm with three brothers and three sisters. Her parents owned 80 acres of farm land including an orchard filled with apples, pears, peaches, etc. Mrs. Brandon, accompanied by her siblings, would climb the trees in the orchard to eat the unripe fruit. They would get sick and their parents told them not to eat the green fruit. Emma didn’t listen to her parents and climbed the tree again. She was caught and spanked for disobeying them. She had a lot of chores to do on the farm such as milking cows, feeding chickens and watering mules. They also had a dog named Old Jack. He was a black and white dog that helped her get the cows from the pastures. Old Jack was like one of the family. When he died they buried him by the barn so they could visit his grave. Having a father who was a Baptist Minister and a mother who was active in the church, Emma learned to grow in her faith and depend on the God’s word when making decisions. She was a quiet person who enjoyed being around family. Emma work for many years at Vanity Fair Retail Store and for a short time she was an Avon Lady. Emma was very meticulous when it came to maintaining her finger nails and would devote 3 hours every Wednesday to her nail maintenance Her nails were so long and beautiful people thought they were fake. When she could she enjoyed going to Arkansas to visit her 2 brothers and sisters-in-law plus their children. Mrs. Brandon’s advice for young people today is to be a teenager. She feels teenagers today are growing up too fast by having kids when they’re just kids themselves. She also advises teenagers to go to school and learn as much as they can because they’re going to need their education to make it in this world. Mrs. Emma Brandon leaves to cherish her memory, 3 daughters, Rose (Clyde) Hall, Joyce (Albert) Rivers, both of Saginaw, MI and Carol Johnson of Pittsburgh, CA; 6 grandchildren, Phelan Johnson, Tracie Rivers, Courtney Johnson, all of Saginaw, MI, Surelia Hall of Canton, MI, Latrece (Marcus) Watson of Southfield, MI and Quincy Hall of Baton Rouge, LA; 2 great-grandchildren, Maya and Morgan Watson, both of Southfield, MI; sister, Ruth (Felton) Smith of Cleveland, OH; brothers-in-law, Robert and Ernest Gilstrap; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins including, Laverne, C.L. Gardner, James (Ida) Gardner, other relatives and friends including Felix Johnson who she loved like a son and he was always there for her, Kate Terrell, Pastor Eddie and Margaret Bragg who are always there when you need them, Leola Holmes and Kathy Chapman. Mrs. Brandon was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome Brandon; son, Larry Brandon; parents, Walter and Ora Gardner; 5 siblings, Beatrice Dinwiddle, Minnie O. Morris, Walter, Pete J. and J.C. Gardner; sister-in-law, Lena Brandon; brothers-in-law, James Brandon, Louis Gilstrap and Sidney Morris. The family would like to express special thanks to Sandy and Mary, Luther Manor Staff, entire Health Source, Wheel staff especially Derrick and Shawn and Covenant Medical Center 6 North staff. A private funeral service has already taken place.

Emma Jean Brandon

December 15, 1922 - August 1, 2015