TUSCALOOSA - Marion Powell Brandon, formerly of Tuscaloosa, died peacefully on December 13, 2018, in Lookout Mountain, Ga., at the age of 90. A private family interment will be held on the morning of December 20, 2018, at the First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa, Ala., with Reverend Michael Bailey officiating. The family will receive friends that same afternoon (Thursday, December 20, 2018) from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Warner Hall, First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa, Ala. Skelton Funeral Home of Reform will be directing.
Marion was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Dr. T. Earl Brandon, Jr. of Tuscaloosa; parents, Henry Oliver Powell, Sr. and Georgia Bell Newman Powell of Birmingham; sister, Julia Powell Veitch and her husband Bob of Fairfield; brother, Henry Oliver Powell, Jr. and his wife Norma of Birmingham; nephews, Robert Veitch of Fairfield and Don Powell of Birmingham.
She is survived by a daughter, Lynn Brandon Johnson and her husband Chuck of Lookout Mountain, Ga. (formerly of Tuscaloosa) and by a son, Dr. John Earl Brandon of Gordo; three granddaughters, Elizabeth Johnson Haley and her husband Heath of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., Brooke Lindsey Brandon of Milwaukee, Wis., and Hannah Claire Brandon of Tuscaloosa; a grandson, Walker Daniel Brandon of Gordo; great- grandchildren, Harrison and Mary Brandon Haley of Lookout Mountain, Tenn. She is also survived by two nieces, Georgia Veitch Beard and her husband Dwight of Hoover and their family and Lynda Powell Horton and her husband Bobby of Vestavia and their family; a nephew, Hank Powell of Helena; and a step-granddaughter, Natileigh Nichols McNutt of West Point, Miss.
Marion was born in Birmingham in 1928. She graduated from Phillips High School in 1945. She then attended The University of Alabama in the Business School. Marion met Earl on a blind date, arranged by her sister Julia and future brother-in-law Bob. Marion and Earl married in 1948. After working several years while Earl finished his Pediatric training in New Orleans, La., Detroit, Mich., and Birmingham, they made Tuscaloosa their home in 1954. She worked for the pediatric medical practice of Earl and the late Dr. Robert Snow, known as Children's Medical Center, until Earl retired in 1989.
While raising John and Lynn, Marion gave much of her time and energy to civic clubs and philanthropic organizations in Tuscaloosa and West Alabama. The Tuscaloosa County Medical Auxiliary, Junior Welfare/League of Tuscaloosa, various PTA's and school organizations, the American Heart Association, Girl Scouts, and many others benefitted from her efforts. Marion served in various leadership positions during her years of volunteer work.
Marion joined First Presbyterian Church in the late 1950s with her husband and children. The church gave her numerous opportunities to serve others. She was elected as an Elder, taught children's Sunday school for many years, and served on several other church committees, including the Communion Committee and the Sanctuary Guild.
One of the joys of her life with Earl was travel. She and Earl visited 87 countries, enjoying learning about other cultures around the world.
After her health began to fail, she moved to Tuscaloosa's Capstone Village and lived there for almost four years. While at Capstone she reacquainted with many friends from Tuscaloosa and West Alabama. In January 2018, she moved to an assisted living community, "Thrive," in Lookout Mountain, Ga. to be near Lynn and her family.
Honorary pallbearers are her many friends and also the staff and administration of both Capstone Village and Thrive. A special thank you to everyone at Thrive and Tapestry Hospice for their loving care of Marion during the past year.
Both Marion and Earl were dedicated to improving education and health care for the children of West Alabama.
In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to Pickens County Board of Education, c/o Ms. Jennifer Shirley (dedicated to the "SMART" school clinics) at 377 Ladow Center Circle, Carrollton, AL 35447. Three "SMART" Health and Wellness Centers were established within Pickens County public schools this academic year, 2018-19. All three are following the national "SMART" model, which is pledged to improving academic achievements and providing primary health care to all students.