Bertha Faye Brandon Obituary
Ms. Bertha Faye Brandon, age 96, of Murfreesboro, TN went to be with the Lord Sunday, October 22, 2023. She was a native of Cannon County, TN and youngest daughter of the late Charley Joe and Bertha Gaither Brandon. Ms. Brandon was a 1945 graduate of Central High School in Woodbury, TN and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1949 from Middle Tennessee State College. She taught freshman English in Swanton, OH before earning her Master’s Degree in 1959 from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. She then taught at Radford College in Radford, VA, elementary P.E. in Moorehead, KY, before coming to Middle Tennessee State University teaching health and P.E until her retirement.
To know Faye was to truly experience joy. Her favorite greeting was “What you know?” Her zest for life touched all who met her. The ultimate Blue Raider rock star in women’s basketball, she was a true legend in advancing women in athletics, education, and all of life’s pursuits.
Her favorite hobby was collecting friends…and she had so many. Her annual Christmas letter was a magnificent production with a far-reaching distribution. Friends from far and wide journeyed to Murfreesboro to celebrate her recent 96th birthday party.
Ms. Brandon is survived by numerous nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews; caretakers, Betty Hoover and Dianne Smotherman; and three musketeers, Jenny Reid, Eva Mae Spielman, and Mary Belle Ginanni. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, James Mason Brandon, George Hale Brandon, Harry Lester “Booty” Brandon, and Frederick Ross Brandon, and sisters, Charlie Bright Smith and Mattie Elizabeth Burton.
For those who wish, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, Murfreesboro or the Charley Joe and Bertha Brandon Scholarship at MTSU.
Visitation with the family will be Saturday, October 28, 2023 from 11:00am until 1:00pm at First United Methodist Church, Murfreesboro. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 1:00pm at First United Methodist Church, Murfreesboro. A Blue Raider reception will follow in the fellowship hall.
An online guestbook is available for the family at www.woodfinchapel.com. Woodin Memorial Chapel (615) 893-5151
