Shirley (Jones) Brannon

Shirley Jones Brannon was born July 14, 1932 in Lubbock County, Slaton, Texas to the parentage of James and Cora (Bates) Jones.  She attended Evans Elementary in Slaton, Texas and graduated from Dunbar High School in Lubbock, Texas.  She graduated from Texas College, Tyler, Texas (1950-1954) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with a minor in English.  She also attended Prairie View A&M University and received her Masters of Library Science Degree from East Texas State University now Texas A&M, Commerce, Texas.  While at Texas College, she was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. 

Her teaching career spanned 35 years.  It began in Slaton, Texas at Evans Elementary School.  She was the first to graduate and teach in her own home town for 5 years.  Before integration, she taught and served as principal at Talco Elementary School. After integration, she taught at Talco Elementary school for 15 years.  She later moved to Mt. Pleasant and taught at Vivian Fowler Elementary School where she retired after 15 years of service.  She served on the Board for NETO, Habitat for Humanity, a member of the Progressive Women’s Club, Retired Teachers Association, American Woodmen.  She united with Triumph Baptist Church at the age of 7 years old baptized at John’s Lake by the late C.W. Henderson.  She served as Sunday School Secretary and a member of the choir.  After moving, to Mt. Pleasant, she united with the Mt. Olive Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Strange.  She later united with Sunset Baptist Church under Rev. Dave Buford.  While there, she served as President of the Senior Choir, Sunday school teacher for the women’s class, pianist on Sunday and also the announcement clerk.  She united in marriage to Thomas Brannon in 1954 and was married for 23 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters, brother, cousins Charles Craddock and his wife and her dear friend Dorothy Barrier.

Leaving to cherish her memory is her nieces, nephews, special niece Deloise Haynes and nephew John Haynes Jr. both of Kansas City, MO; special cousins Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Harris Jr. of Houston, Texas; very good friend Tena McCoo of Mt. Pleasant, Texas; her godchildren Shatena McCoo and Mayci N. Stoker both of Mt. Pleasant, Texas; foster sister Ruby Nickleberry of Dallas, Texas; and a host of other relatives and friends and her neighbors on Pecan and Searcy.

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