James Aaron Bratton

James (Jimmy) Aaron Bratton was born in Draper, North Carolina on July 15th, 1937. He passed on June 16th, 2024.

Jimmy left his home town of Eden, North Carolina in 1954, just after his seventeenth birthday to join the US Air Force. He spent twenty-one years and four months in the Air Force, retiring on November 30th, 1975 at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. Jimmy was proud of his time serving his country and proudly wore his ball cap with the insignia “US Air Force – Retired” proudly displayed. Following his time in the military, Jimmy worked in sales and small business retail before accepting a position with the US Postal Service. The delivery route he most enjoyed was one that included the Fort Worth Stockyards area. He retired from the US Postal Services after more than twenty years.

Jimmy spent his early life high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains just outside of Stuart, Virginia before moving to Draper, North Carolina (later re-named Eden, North Carolina) during his elementary school years. He had great memories of his time in the mountains and would often tell stories of that time of his life, particularly times spent with his grandfather. He loved blue grass gospel music and old-time country music, or as he called it, “real country music”. He played the guitar and banjo, and it was hard to find a time to enter his house without music playing. He passed while his beloved country and gospel music was playing on the radio.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his wife Pat Bratton, his mother Catherine Griffith, his stepfather Stuart Griffith and his father Bruce Bratton. Jimmy is survived by his sister Linda Ritchie and husband Bobby of Eden, North Carolina, brother-in-law Stan Wilson and wife Dianne of Fort Worth, Texas, Sister-in-law Mary Vassar of Tryon, Oklahoma, daughter Brenda Guilford and husband Steve of Fort Worth, Texas, and son James Bratton and wife Marla of Burleson, Texas. He has four grandchildren Ryan Guilford, Kelvin Bratton, Caleb Guilford and Mallory Slattery plus four great-grandchildren Avery Slattery, Jensen Slattery, Evie Guilford, and Asa Guilford.