Margaret M Brantley

Margaret Marie Brandley passed away peacefully on July 19, 2020, at Consulate Health Care of Brandon, Brandon, FL, about 2 ½ weeks before her 98th birthday. Prior to going to Consulate, she was a resident of Plant City, FL, for around 65 years. Margaret was born in Arcadia, FL, on August 6, 1922 the youngest of 3 daughters born to Thomas G. and Anna E. Bauer Brantley.

She was raised in Hull and Arcadia and graduated from DeSoto High School in Arcadia. Following graduation, she attended Stetson University and then enrolled in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary receiving a Sacred Music Degree in May, 1951. Following that graduation, she started working with the First Baptist Church of Plant City as an Educational Secretary and Organist for over 40 years retiring in September, 1992. She had a very special place in her heart for Michael Woodall and wouldn’t retire until he was able to take her place as organist and he was a devoted friend the rest of her life. While she was at Consulate he would bring his golden lab, Dixie, to see her and she loved that.

Margret had several loves in addition to her love of God and His music. She and her next older sister Frieda Brantley had a very special relationship and travelled together on numerous trips such as to Colorado Spring to see their older sister, Ireland, Smokey Mountains, and many, many trips to Arcadia to see Frieda or to join her house and dog sitting for her former employer and very good friend Judge Vincent Hall and his wife Shirley at their ranch. She continued that several years after Frieda had passed and was with them during Hurricane Charley. She loved their cocker spaniels and especially Frieda’s cockers in that line, Radar, Dusty, and Murphy Brantley. She had some interesting experiences at the ranch with a bull in the front yard along, various other creatures, and issues with the dogs. She also traveled to other countries such as Germany in 2000 to attend the Oberammergau Passion Play and tour the Imperial Cities—Munich, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Prague, Budapest, and Vienna, and especially enjoyed her 3 trips to the Holy Land. She also loved to paint and liked to do painting and slide shows from her trips to the Holy Land.

She was predeceased by her parents, her two sisters Katherine Brantley (Frank) Noll and Frieda Brantley and nieces and nephew.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held August 16, 2020, at 3 PM at the Turkey Creek First Baptist Church, 4915 W. Trapnell Rd., Plant City, FL 33566.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention for mission work. Donations can be given to the Turkey Creek First Baptist Church with designation of “Missions—Margaret Brantley”, or to an animal rescue organization (preferably for Dogs Only), or an organization of your choice.

Great appreciation to Wells Memorial and Event Center, Plant City, FL for their assistance.