Bennie "Gerald" Branch, Sr.

Mr. Bennie “Gerald” Branch, Sr., 85, of Chula passed away on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at Maple Court Senior Care.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, April 1, 2022 at Hickory Springs Church Cemetery with Pastor Sam Maves officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 1:45 P.M. at the cemetery before the service.

Mr. Branch was born October 25, 1936 in Tift county to the late Francis Irvin Branch, Sr., and Mary Elma Chapman Branch. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his infant son, Edmund Irvin Branch. Gerald lived all of his life in Chula. He was a farmer. He was a hard-working and practical man who cared for the family land. He enjoyed building ponds and met LaVerne when doing construction work for her father. He lived by one of his quotes: “I believe you should leave the land in a little better shape than you found it.” From 1978 to 2001, he served as a District Supervisor of the Middle South Georgia Soil & Water Conservation District and served as chairman part of that time.

Gerald graduated Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in 1956 with a diploma in Farm Equipment Service and Sales. He was a member of the ABAC President’s Club and served as a leader in developing the Masonic Lodge of Tifton Endowed Scholarship at ABAC. Gerald was a proud and loyal member of the Tifton Masonic Lodge for fifty-six years. He received the honor of Mason of the Year in 2015.

Gerald was a devout husband and father. He loved his grandchildren and was proud of their accomplishments. “Granddaddy” was a man with a big heart. Gerald liked to attend church services with family and listen to gospel music. He was a member of the Baptist faith. In later years, he enjoyed traveling, camping, and spending time with his grandchildren.

Mr. Branch is survived by his wife, LaVerne Dumas Branch of Chula to whom he was married for sixty years; his two sons and daughters-in-law, Bennie and Dina Branch and Gary and Janna Branch all of Tifton; his grandchildren, Ben Branch and his wife Katie, Andi Branch and her fiancé, Avery Mathis, Annabelle Branch, Mason Branch and Celiabeth Branch. His two brothers and sisters-in-law, Irvin and Joy Branch of Chula and Larry and Terrie Branch of Tifton; his sister and brother-in-law, Marlene and Bob White of Roswell and his brother-in-law, John Dumas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests making donations to the church or charity of your choice.

Albritton funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.