Mrs. Wilma Gertafane Strong Brandon was born October 29, 1935 in Morgan County, Alabama. Wilma departed this life on April 6, 2007. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles "Twenty" Brandon, Jr. March 20, 1989. She was the loving daughter of the late Mrs. Marie Strong-Hartfield and Mr. Columbus "Lump" Strong, she was also preceded in death by her sister Ms. Margaret Strong. Having given her life to Christ at the age of thirteen, she joined Hill Chapel Church. She would continue throughout her life to find strength and solace for her relationship with the Lord.
Wilma leaves to cherish her memory six sons; Llewellyn, U. S. Army Retired, of Stafford, VA, Harold of Atlanta, GA; Marvin, Active U. S. Army of Ft. Rucker, AL, Timothy and Darrell of Huntsville and Doyle, Active U. S. Army of Ft. Knox, KY; three daughters-in-law, Mrs. Mary A-H Brandon of Stafford, VA, Mrs. Debra Brandon of Ft. Rucker, AL and Mrs. Jana Brandon of Ft. Knox, KY; six grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
Her naturalized Sisters and Brothers include, Nettie Wynn, Anne Edmonds, Mattie Burks, Shelia Burks, and Frances Tate all of Decatur, AL; Margaret Ruffin and Elove Johnston of New Orleans, LA; Evelyn Robinson and Doris Curry of Akron, OH; Helen Steger, Dorothy Hyter and Kathleen Fletcher of Huntsville, AL; Marjorie Shields of Indianapolis, IN. The following sisters preceded her in death Susie, Lucie, Effie, Julia, Samella, Elizabeth, and Eleanor. Her brothers included Edward Burks of Cleveland, OH and Myles Shields of Indianapolis, IN. Brothers preceding her in death are Ceil, James and Lewis. Finally, she leaves nine nieces, four nephews, a host of grand-nieces, nephews, many relatives and friends.
Wilma Brandon was the soft spoken matriarch of the Brandon family. Her strength was derived from a heritage of strong, family oriented women. She would serve as a mother figure to so many others whose paths she crossed always offering a supporting smile and quaint "how about that" comment. "Miss Wilma, Gerty, or Mrs. Twenty" remained a quite endearing lady of gentile persuasion. Her natural love for the culinary arts easily translated into her twenty-two year career in food service with the Huntsville Hilton and Clementine’s Fields of Greens. During her service with the Hilton Corporation, she was named on numerous occasions employee of the month and year. Her early education began at Cedar Lake in Morgan County. She would later attend West Clinton Street School in Huntsville, Alabama. Wilma graduated from William Hooper Council High School and went on to further her education at Alabama A & M College. She never lost her thirst for reading and travel. Over the years, she drew great pleasure from traveling to and participating in family gatherings. To know Wilma was to love her, and she will be dearly missed. Matthew 5:4—Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Funeral services for Mrs. Brandon will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 13, 2007 from the Hills Chapel C. P. Church in Decatur, AL with Reverend Mattie Burks officiating. Visitation will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, 2007 from Nelms Memorial Funeral Home. Interment will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens. The remains of Mrs. Brandon will be in the church one hour prior to funeral time.