James E. Bransford
Visitation will be Mon-day from 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m. at House of Prayer United Pentecostal Church in Fulton. Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at the church, with Elder Edmond Bruton officiating, assisted by Elders Ira Hathaway and Kerney Boyd, Superintendent John A. Harris and Auxiliary Bishop John Flemings. Interment will follow in Pleasant View Memorial Gardens near Fulton.
Honorary pallbearers will be John “Pete” Algee, Ralph Fitzpatrick Sr., James H. Johnson, Aaron Thomas Johnson, Jeff Vaughn, O.B. Joy, William Ruben Dukes and Charles Ray Jennings. Pallbearers will be Marshall Alexander, Greg Alexander, Willis Alexander, Harry W. Hutcherson, Brian Fitzpat-rick and Ralph Fitzpatrick Jr.
Pettus Rowland Funeral Home of Paducah, Ky., is in charge of arrangements.
He was born to the late Mr. Jim and Oma (Payne) Bransford in Obion County Sept. 18, 1920. He was married to the former Thelma Johnson in 1942. She preceded him in death.
A member of Faith Tem-ple Church of God in Christ in South Fulton, he served as a deacon, a Sunday school superintendent for more than 40 years, custodian and general treasurer. He also played drums and the tambourine. He was the oldest deacon in the local district of the Church of God in Christ and also in Kentucky’s first jurisdiction of the church.
He had been employed by the McDade family, by Fall and Fall Insurance Agency, by the former Reed Brothers Feed and Seed Co and by the former Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., retiring April 1, 1988, after 19 years of service.
He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Ms. Barbara K. Bransford; five brothers, Haford Brans-ford, Leslie Bransford, A.B. Bransford, Elward Brans-ford and Willis Bransford; and five sisters, Maggie Alexander, Naomi Brooks, Clemmie Iola Garmon, Mary Johnson and Edrell Mosley.
His survivors include his children, Peggy Bransford Gholson of Fulton and James H. (Diane) Bransford of Lansing, Mich.; and his grandchildren, Reponza Denning, Dejeane Gholson, Lisa Saddler, Cassandra Brown, Michael Gholson, James H. Bransford Jr., Derrick Bransford, Brian Bransford, Marlin Bransford, Nedra Bransford, Felisha Bransford and Vernon Bransford.