Lillian James Brannon

Greensboro- Mrs. Lillian Covington James Brannon, 88, was reunited with her husband, Donald, and Savior, Jesus Christ on January 2, 2015. Funeral services to celebrate her life will be at 2 PM, Sunday, January 4 at Guilford Park Presbyterian Church with Dr. Jeff Paschal officiating. Interment will be at Westminster Gardens. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

Lillian was born in Hamlet, NC to the late Dr. and Mrs. Fairley P. and Hallie Covington James and raised in Laurinburg. She was a 1947 graduate of Woman’s College (now UNC-G) with a degree in Sociology and received her teaching certificate from Greensboro College. Lillian worked as a social worker and taught kindergarten at Bessemer and reading at Cone schools. She was a member of College Place Methodist and Guilford Park Presbyterian Churches. She sang in the choirs and participated in the women’s circle of both and played the piano for the men’s Sunday school class at College Place. She was married to Donald Augustus Brannon for 15 years until his death in 1962. Lillian will be remembered for her kind and sweet spirit, always recognizing the positive qualities in people and her enjoyment of the company of others. One of the things that probably kept her young at heart was her love of young people and little children. She and her husband raised four children together and fostered two other young girls. She was a wonderful grandmother and loved to take care of her sweet grandchildren. Lillian was a great cook and talented pianist. Her children will remember fun trips to the beach with her and that their mother, even when times were hard, was always able to provide what they needed and more often than not, what they wanted too. She was their rock to lean on and soft spot to fall upon.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children and their spouses, Donna Brannon Faulkner (Don) of Charlotte, Harriet “Hallie” Brannon Smith of Greensboro, James Bryson Brannon (Dawn) of Seven Lakes and John Marshall Brannon (Mary) of Greensboro; grandchildren, Donald Hyatt, Megan Padgett (Jason), Robert Hyatt, J. Bryson Brannon Jr. (Carla), Chris Faulkner, Beth Faulkner, Anne Brannon, Brooke Brannon and Bailey Brannon; 13 great grandchildren; two nephews, Ed (Anne) and Fairley (Joy) Guest; and two foster daughters, Susie Chandler and Bonita Althiser. In addition to her parents and spouse she is preceded in death by her sister, Mrs. Winston James Guest .

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Guilford Park Presbyterian Church, 2100 Fernwood Drive, Greensboro, NC 27408 or Children’s Home Society of NC, PO Box 14608, Greensboro, NC 27415. Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com. Hanes-Lineberry N. Elm chapel is assisting the family.