Dr. Martha Branyon, age 83, of Birmingham formerly of Fayette went to be with the Lord on February 9th, 2020.
Born July 25, 1936 in Fayette, Alabama she is the daughter of the late Arthur Curtis Branyon Jr. and Bernice Rowland Branyon. She graduated from Fayette High School in 1954. Martha Branyon, RN, EdD, began her 37-year nursing career in 1954. She received her diploma from the University Hospital School of Nursing, Martha stayed in Birmingham and worked at Lloyd Noland Hospital as an OB nurse for three years and then in medical nursing at the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital for two years.
While working at Lloyd Noland, Martha got her bachelor’s degree in nursing. She began attending classes at the Extension Center (now Tidwell Hall) and completed her degree at the University of Alabama School of Nursing, Tuscaloosa, in 1964. She worked at UAB Hospital as evening supervisor and then went back to work at the VA Hospital for five years, as a staff nurse, head nurse, clinical specialist, relief supervisor and nursing in-service educator.
Martha received her master’s in medical/surgical nursing in 1969, she served as associate professor at the University of Alabama School of Nursing for two years. She then accepted a position at the Veterans Administration Hospital in New Orleans and a part-time position at Louisiana State University, where she was a clinical specialist and the graduate nursing program’s first full-time faculty member.
In 1976, Martha returned to her teaching position at the University of Alabama School of Nursing. She taught cardiovascular nursing and later also taught education courses for master’s and doctoral students. In 1985, she received her doctorate in administration of higher education.
Martha became a Christian as a teenager and rededicated her life to the Lord this summer. She loved being with her family and was always so generous. Martha enjoyed spending time with friends, playing on her computer, reading, playing bridge and traveling.
She is survived by her sister, Marilyn Burleson (Jimmy) of Winfield, her niece, Teresa Morrison (Tim) of Rodgers, AR, nephew, Tom Burleson (Cindy) of Winfield, great nieces and nephews, Haley Guntharp (Nigel) of Montgomery, Curt Howell of Fayetteville, AR, Thomas Burleson of Winfield, Jessica Burleson Whatley (Thomas) of Birmingham and Hannah Howell of Rodgers, AR, and a host of other family and friends.
The funeral service for Martha will be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at the Bowen Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in the Fayette City Cemetery. Dr. Paul Murphy will be the officiating minister. The visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. (service time) at the funeral home. Bowen Funeral Home of Winfield serving the Branyon family.
