Manley Branham

March 19, 1925-August 13, 2014 Funeral services for Mr. Manley Talton (M.T.) Branham, age 89 of Ruston, will be held at Temple Baptist Church Chapel at 4:00 PM Saturday, August 16 2014. Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM until the time of the service. Officiating the service will be Rev. Dale Oden. Services are under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston. Monday, August 18, 2014, a service for Mr. Branham will be held at 12:00 Noon at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home in Trussville, AL. Burial will follow in Jefferson Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until the time of the service on Monday in Trussville. Mr. Branham was born March 19, 1925 to Walter Lee and Viola Elizabeth Branham in Gardendale, Alabama and died Wednesday, August 13, 2014 in Ruston. He graduated from Mortimer Jordan High School in 1943. Mr. Branham then enlisted in the US Navy August 3, 1943 and served as Seaman First Class at NAS Pensacola and aboard the USS Baltimore in the Pacific until March 11, 1946. While serving his country, he earned a Victory Medal, American Theater Medal, and Asian Pacific Medal. He was married to Violet Norlyn Boutwell, March 19, 1945 in Bessemer, Alabama. Mr. Branham graduated from the University of Florida February 3, 1951 with a B.S. in Business Administration. He worked 35 years in the paper industry, mostly as the Plant Controller. He retired from Boise Cascade Corporation in DeRidder, Louisiana in 1986 and then moved to Ruston, Louisiana. In his leisure time, M.T. enjoyed fishing, studying genealogy, and spending time with his family. He was always active in his local church serving as a deacon, working with Royal Ambassadors and teaching Sunday School. He was preceded in death by his parents, 5 sisters, 6 brothers and great granddaughter Abigail Parmer. He is survived by his wife of 69 years: Violet Branham; children: Manley Branham and wife Frances; Kenneth Branham and Joyce Stewart; and Norlyn and husband Leo Hyde; grandchildren: Robyn and husband Chris Parmer; Jennifer and husband Clarence Collins; Lisa Branham; Lee Branham and wife Kami; Joy Lynn and husband Jason Hoy; Kenny Branham; Chris Hyde and wife Rhonda; Jonathan Hyde and wife Sarah; Melanie and husband John Atkinson; and Jimmy McDaniel and wife Amanda; great-grandchildren: Elizabeth, C.J., Jacob, and Joshua Parmer; Jay Collins; Hailey Walker; Tristan, Tyler, and Trina Branham; Brett, Madeline, and Zachary Hoy; Abi Lou, Ruth Ann, and Matthew Hyde; Rylie and Parker Atkinson; Shannan and Madelyn McDaniel; brother :Connard Branham and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or Nicaragua Save the Children program of Temple Baptist Church.