Gertie Leatherwood Branton

Penrose - Gertie Leatherwood Branton, 69, of Penrose went to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 23,2002 after a long battle with cancer. Born in Haywood County, she was the daughter of the late Sam Pack and Emma Jane Messer Leatherwood. Gertie was the wife of William B. Bill Branton, Sr. and is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Sherry and Steve Carter of Greenville, S.C. and by a son and daughter-in-law, Darrell and Katherine Warren of Fletcher, a stepdaughter and son-in-law, Deborah and William Cassady of Newberry, S.C. and a stepson and daughter-in-law William B. Billy and Pam Branton also of Newberry, S.C. She is also survived by grandchildren, Angie Miller, Cindy Hamilton, Shawn Hamilton, Justin Branton, Jessica Branton and three great grandchildren, Wesley Childers, Colby and Derek Miller. Mrs. Branton is also survived by sisters Lizzie Mae Jones of Balsom, Emma Louise Southall of Covington, Va. and by a brother, Sam Leatherwood of Bridgeton, N.J. She was predeceased by sisters Edith Messer, C.L. Duncan, and Annie Leatherwood and by brothers Ralph Leatherwood and Houston Leatherwood. Services for Mrs. Branton will be held 3 pm Monday at Temple Baptist Church in Brevard with the Rev. Alvin C. Morgan and Rev. James T. Hartley, Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Pisgah Gardens Memorial Park. She was a charter member and was very active in the church as a Sunday School teacher, choir member and organizer of the homebound ministry at Temple. Pallbearers are Justin Branton, Shawn Hamilton, Carroll Hamilton, Bob Tipton, Lee Chappell, Darrell Miller, Paul Branton and Wesley Childers. Visitation will be at the church two hours before the services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Temple Baptist Church, P.O. Box 126, Pisgah Forest, N.C. 28768. Anders-Rice funeral home is in charge of arrangements.