Thomas J. Brannon of West Columbia, S.C., veteran Baptist communicator and denominational leader, died Nov. 26 after fighting multiple forms of cancer and several other ailments in recent years. He was 83. Brannon grew up on a farm on the outskirts of Greer, S.C. As a student in high school, he developed an interest in writing. In 1955, he made a commitment to full-time Christian service. Those two callings shaped the rest of his life. He graduated from Furman University and also attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He worked in a textile plant and grocery store to pay his way through school. While he attended Furman, he also was publicity director for the Greenville Rescue Mission. He served two summers as student missionary in Kansas, Washington and Oregon—experiences that helped shape his lifelong support for Christian missions. Holston Creek Baptist Church in Inman, S.C., licensed him to the gospel ministry, and he served Amelia Street Baptist Church in Orangeburg, S.C., as pastor. He worked 15 years as director of public relations for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Brannon directed communications for the Baptist General Convention of Texas from 1980 until his retirement, leading a 13-member team that handled all aspects of communication for Texas Baptists. Over the years, he wrote many articles, mostly for denominational publications, and provided photos to accompany many of these. He won numerous awards for writing, design, photography and public relations programs. He was a longtime member of the Public Relations Society of America. He was active as a member and president of the Religious Public Relations Council, now the Religion Communicators Council. For his service as a member and president of the Baptist Public Relations Association, now Baptist Communicators Association, the nationwide organization made him a lifetime member. He was preceded in death last year by his wife of 55 years, Sandra Annette Raines Brannon. He is survived by a sister, Lorene Trout, and a brother, Paul Brannon, both of Greer, S.C.
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