The Branham Family
Rev. Walter Branham brought his wife, Elizabeth Flournoy, and their family to Oxford in 1855. They bought what is now known as the Branham House on Wesley Street.
Walter R. Branham, Jr. married Adeline Singleton (1861 – 1947) and they later brought their family to live in the Branham House. Walter Branham, Jr. was a minister in the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church. Adeline taught Sunday school, had charge of the Women’s Missionary Society, plyaed the piano for the church, and directed the choir.
Another son of Walter and Elizabeth, Junius W. Branham, ran Branham’s Store on Emory Street in Oxford. (Junius’s daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Branham became a renowned microbiologist. Her full biography can be found in Part One of this book).
A daughter of Walter and Elizabeth, Verlynda (“Aunt Lynn”) Branham (1866 – 1958) never married. She lived and died in the Branham House where she was born. She was a masterful “householder” of early college boarding homes for Emory College students in the day before there were dormitories on campus. Some of her boarders included Dr. Harry Bardwell and Dr. E. G. Mackay. She was known for her kindness, fairness and charity. According to Charles C. Jarrell, “her religion was practical rather than pietistic; and she held a very modest opinion of her own worth and goodness.”
Walter R. Branham, Jr. married Adeline Singleton (1861 – 1947) and they later brought their family to live in the Branham House. Walter Branham, Jr. was a minister in the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church. Adeline taught Sunday school, had charge of the Women’s Missionary Society, plyaed the piano for the church, and directed the choir.
Another son of Walter and Elizabeth, Junius W. Branham, ran Branham’s Store on Emory Street in Oxford. (Junius’s daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Branham became a renowned microbiologist. Her full biography can be found in Part One of this book).
A daughter of Walter and Elizabeth, Verlynda (“Aunt Lynn”) Branham (1866 – 1958) never married. She lived and died in the Branham House where she was born. She was a masterful “householder” of early college boarding homes for Emory College students in the day before there were dormitories on campus. Some of her boarders included Dr. Harry Bardwell and Dr. E. G. Mackay. She was known for her kindness, fairness and charity. According to Charles C. Jarrell, “her religion was practical rather than pietistic; and she held a very modest opinion of her own worth and goodness.”
Elizabeth (“Billie”) Branham (1899 - 1989) and Martha Branham (1901 - 1984), were the daughters of Walter, Jr. and Addie and nieces of Verlynda Branham. They lived in the Branham House with their aunt and, like her, never married. Billie worked as a dietitian at the Newton County Hospital.
Martha, Billie’s sister, was a star basketball player in her youth, was said to have been “the most graceful player ever seen on the basketball courts of Atlanta.” Martha lived in Oxford for over 75 years and became cashier of Oxford College in 1952, retiring after 15 years in 1967.
In the 1970s, Martha Branham and her sister, Billie made one of the largest gifts ever given to Oxford College at that time. They bequeathed their home, adjacent property, and a farm on Moore Street in Oxford to the college as well as money for improvements to the gymnasium as a tribute to Martha’s love of sports. Both the Branham sisters were deeply devoted to their church and were active in the Women’s Society of Christian Service.
Descendants of the Branhams still live in Oxford.
Martha, Billie’s sister, was a star basketball player in her youth, was said to have been “the most graceful player ever seen on the basketball courts of Atlanta.” Martha lived in Oxford for over 75 years and became cashier of Oxford College in 1952, retiring after 15 years in 1967.
In the 1970s, Martha Branham and her sister, Billie made one of the largest gifts ever given to Oxford College at that time. They bequeathed their home, adjacent property, and a farm on Moore Street in Oxford to the college as well as money for improvements to the gymnasium as a tribute to Martha’s love of sports. Both the Branham sisters were deeply devoted to their church and were active in the Women’s Society of Christian Service.
Descendants of the Branhams still live in Oxford.