Former Statesboro Mayor Joe Brannen died in Savannah on Tuesday, June 2 after struggling with Parkinson’s disease for years. He was 81.
Brannen was elected to Statesboro’s City Council in October 1998 and served as a Council member for District Four for 10 years. He then went on to serve one term as Mayor from 2010- 2013.
“Mayor Brannen was a true public servant,” said Mayor Jonathan McCollar. “He loved his family and serving the citizens of Statesboro. We are a better city and community because of him. He leaves behind a legacy of hope and compassion. The city will surely miss his gentle spirit.”
Mayor McCollar, on behalf of the City of Statesboro, asks that everyone keep Brannen’s family members in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Mayor McCollar has ordered city flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Brannen.
Joiner Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of the arrangements.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm in the chapel of Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home in Statesboro. All social distancing guidelines will be observed.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 11:00 am at Statesboro First Baptist Church with Dr. John Waters officiating, assisted by Dr. H. William Perry. The body will lie-in-state one hour prior to the service. All CDC suggested guidelines will be observed.
Interment will follow in Bulloch Memorial Gardens.
Obituary for Mr. Joe Robert Brannen Sr.
Joe’s passion was helping others and he began his consumer finance career with Commercial Credit, in Macon GA. In Macon Joe excelled with Commercial Credit, driven by his work ethic and his desire to help others; Joe was able to move to Savannah with the company. He opened the Statesboro Commercial Credit branch office in 1966 and served as Branch Manager until his retirement in 2006. During retirement he worked with Sea Island Bank in the asset recovery department until 2013.
Joe served the City of Statesboro as a three term City Council member from 1998 and was elected mayor of Statesboro in 2010. He truly loved the City of Statesboro and enjoyed working with, and for, the people of Statesboro.
Joe was a public servant in many ways. He was a charter member of the Bulloch Lions Club where he served in all officer positions and he was a member of the Statesboro Rotary Club.
He was a board member of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Savannah Area. He was a supporter of Georgia Southern University’s A Day for Southern and worked in many community projects.
He was a member of the Statesboro First Baptist Church where he attended the Agape Sunday School Class.
Joe was an avid runner, loved playing tennis with his wife and friends. He also loved watching and playing sports and fishing with his children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis Marion Brannen and Mary Hodges Brannen; brother, Frank Mahlon Brannen; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law Rex and Sally Britton.
Surviving are his wife, Cecil Lee Britton Brannen of Statesboro; Four sons and daughters-in-law and their children, Greg and Sara Brannen and Chandler Brannen of Pine Mountain, GA; Joe Robert Brannen, Jr and wife Michele and their children, Lindsay and Zachary of Savannah; Jeff and Lisa Brannen and Jessica of Statesboro and Richard and Kate Brannen and Ryan, Rachel, and Witt Brannen all of Statesboro; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Kenneth Smith, Sr and Carrie Smith of Martinez, CA; his nephews and nieces, Glenn Brannen of Nashville, TN, Mary Margaret Dellofano of Orlando, Sherry Zottola of Oregon, Kenny Smith, Jr. of California, Cindi Nyguen of Orlando and Roger Smith of Martinez, CA and an aunt Geneva Brannen of Metter,GA.. Many cousins also survive.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 5:00pm until 8:00pm in the chapel of Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home in Statesboro. All social distancing guidelines will be observed.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 11:00am at Statesboro First Baptist Church with Dr. John Waters officiating, assisted by Dr. H. William Perry. The body will lie-in-state one hour prior to the service. All CDC suggested guidelines will be observed.
Interment will follow in Bulloch Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Allen Muldrew, Travis Chance, John Riggs and Bernie Martin.
Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Agape Sunday School Class.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to The Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 Southeast First Street, Suite 800, Miami, Florida 33131.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of the arrangements.
