Ola Brannon

Waynesville-Susan Olina ''Ola'' Bowman Brannon, age 104, formerly of 158 Morning Drive, died Saturday, February 21, 2004 at Autumn Care Nursing Home.

Ola was born in Bakersville, Mitchell County, NC on June 21, 1899. She was the last one of 13 children born to the late Professor James Clayton Bowman and his wife Anna Mary Young Bowman, both natives of Mitchell County. In addition to her parents, brothers, and sisters, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Reverend Melvin Otho Brannon. She and her late husband formerly operated Brannon Curb Market.

Ola was very proud of her family and their heritage from Mitchell County. Her father was a pioneer educator in Mitchell County, and the current Bowman Middle School in Bakersville was named in his honor. He also represented Mitchell County having been elected as a member of the General Assembly N.C. House.

The family moved to Berea, Kentucky where Professor Bowman was a member of the faculty at the Berea College Foundation School until his retirement.

Ola graduated from Berea College with a BA Degree in Philosophy. Following her graduation, she taught weaving crafts at Berea College. She was a gifted weaver, poet, and artist. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and was active in church circles, and participated actively in the quilting group at the First United Methodist Church of Waynesville. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend. Ola touched many lives and will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her son, Robert O. Brannon and his wife, Elizabeth of Waynesville; three granddaughters, Leigh Brannon of Nashville, TN, Lynn Brannon Lasley and her husband, Tom of Asheville, and Susan Brannon McBennett and her husband, Charles of Waynesville; and one great granddaughter, Roselyn Brannon Lasley of Asheville; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 in the Waynesville chapel of Wells Funeral Homes and Cremation Services. The Reverend Dr. W. Lyn Sorrells and Reverend John H. Christy, Jr. will officiate. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, prior to the services, at the funeral home. A private family interment will be at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Child Care Development Center, Haywood Community College, 185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde, NC 28721 or to the Kindergarten Program of the First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, P.O. Box 838, Waynesville, NC 28786.

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