Dr. James “Curtis” Branch, Jr., 82, of Tifton, passed away Tuesday morning, December 18, 2012, at Tift Regional Medical Center after a long battle with cancer. A Celebration Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 21, 2012, in the Sanctuary of Tifton’s First Baptist Church. Dr. Wayne Roe, Dr. W. Ches Smith III and Rev. Terrell Roberts will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery with Rev. Paul Thomas officiating at the graveside. Russ Moore, Marty Moore, Phil Moore, Steve Branch, Danny Branch, Scott Branch, Stan Mann, Mack Branch, Steve Devane, Brent Devane and Bill Devane will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the I. D. Morgan Sunday school class of Tifton’s First Baptist Church, active and inactive members of the Board of Deacons of Tifton’s First Baptist Church, Dr. Ray Clayton, Jerry Surles, Dr. Leonard Dykes, Willie Gainer, Mike Lockett, Dr. Marvin Meinders, James Lastinger, David Hilliard, Charles Powell and Dale Pflug. The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 20, 2012, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Dr. James Curtis Branch, Jr. leaves behind a legacy – A legacy of family devotion and a strong, bold spirit with a big, warm friendly smile with kindness and love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Dr. Branch was born on August 1, 1930 in Ben Hill County and spent his years of youth in Brookfield. He is the son of the late James Curtis Branch, Sr. and Lois Towson Branch, formerly of Brookfield. Dr. Branch joined the United States Army and served as First Lieutenant in the Veterinary Corps from 1954-56, after graduating from the University of Georgia. He was a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine. He has been a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with over 60 years experience taking care of our most beloved friends and was the owner of Branch’s Veterinary Clinic in Tifton.
He has many accomplishments over the years and has received numerous awards. He has been a member of various organizations such as Alpha PSI, Alpha Zeta, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Georgia Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) and the South Georgia Veterinary Medical Association (SGVMA). He was a member of Tifton’s First Baptist Church, where he served as Chairman of various committees and deacon and recently was honored as a Life-Time Deacon with the Lifetime Deacon Award. He has served as Vice-President of SGVMA and Board of Director of SGVMA, Honorary FFA and member of 4-H Club of America, Past Bank Director of C&S Bank, now known as Bank of America, member of University of Georgia President’s Club, member of Abraham Baldwin College President’s Club, member of Agricultural Alumni Council at UGA College of Veterinary College. He was given the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2000 by the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. He also received the Distinguished Service Award of Georgia in 2006. Dr. James Curtis Branch and wife, Mary Frances Branch were recently honored by friends and family in the celebration of 52 years of marriage.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Frances Devane Branch of Tifton and four children, three daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and seven grandchildren, which are: son, James Curtis Branch III, daughter-in-law, Julie Branch, grandson Dru Branch and step-grandson Clay Berry; son, Jay Gregory Branch, daughter-in-law Terri Branch, grandson Jay Branch and granddaughter Alexandria Branch; daughter, Marla Branch Smith, son-in-law, Bert Smith, granddaughters, Malia Smith and Melanie Smith; son, J. Edgar Branch, daughter-in-law, Shauna Branch and granddaughter, Eva Joleigh Branch. He is also survived by many brothers and sisters and two brothers-in-law, which are the following; sister, Ann Branch Moore and brother-in-law, the late Marvin Moore; two nieces and three nephews; brother, Dan Branch, sister-in-law, Carolyn Branch, three nephews and one niece; sister, Deleen Branch Ellis and brother-in-law, Albert Ellis, three nieces; sister, Carolyn Branch Mann and brother-in-law, the late John Mann, one nephew and one niece; brother, Earl Branch, sister-in-law, June Branch and two nieces; sister, Jane Branch Atwater, brother-in-law, Emory Atwater and three nieces; brother, Jerry Branch, sister-in-law, Kathe Branch, one niece and one nephew; brother-in-law, Max Devane and sister-in-law, Lois Devane, one nephew and one niece; and brother-in-law, Roy Devane and sister-in-law, Janice Devane, two nephews and one niece.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to the Forward in Faith Building Fund at Tifton’s First Baptist Church, 404 Love Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794.