Francis "Frannie" Jenness Brannan

Francis “Frannie” Jenness Brannan, Sr., 90, a resident of Winston-Salem, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Forsyth Medical Center.

He was born in Washington, DC, on September 11, 1935, to the late Charles Thomas Brannan and Anna Jenness Brannan.

Frannie began his career at the young age of nine delivering newspapers with his brothers for The Washington Star newspaper. Frannie attended St. Anthony’s High School in Washington DC and voluntarily joined the United States Army in 1955. Frannie returned to Washington DC from his military service and married his sweetheart Louella Wilson in 1957. While married he supported his wife, newly born daughter and completed his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in 1961. Frannie was a committed, loyal and hard-working man working multiple jobs while supporting a family and completing his college studies after proudly serving in the US Army.

Upon completion of his college degree, he moved south and became a Distribution Manager for R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, where he worked for 30 years before retiring in 1989. Following retirement, he worked for the IRS for another ten years and spent time assisting underprivileged individuals with their tax filings. Frannie started his own tax service and continued to prepare taxes into his late eighties.

Frannie was an avid and lifelong fisherman that he passed on to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He cherished the family summer cottage in Cove Point, MD that his father bought in the mid 1940’s. Frannie preserved this cottage and then took on a complete rebuild of this family heirloom when it was destroyed by Hurricane Isabel in 2003. He was a fan of all Washington DC sports programs, especially football and baseball. He was charismatic and known for his wicked sense of humor, making people laugh with his many shenanigans & epic dance moves. Frannie was a devout Catholic who valued his faith deeply and is fondly remembered for one of his many adages “if you have time to play, you have time to pray” .

His infectious sense of humor, quick wit and deep compassion for people that had struggles in life will be missed by all. Frannie always looked for the best in others and gave the best he had to all.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Christopher M. Brannan, Phillip E. Brannan, and John S. Brannan.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 68 years, Louella Wilson Brannan of the home; his children, Rochelle Ambrose (Jay) of California, Francis Brannan, Jr. of Winston-Salem, Joseph Brannan (Elissa) of Lexington, Alicia Stewart of Winston-Salem, and Maryanna Belknap (Jim) of Lexington; his grandsons, Sean, Conner, Riley, Jack, Austen, Colton, Owen, and Adam; his great-grandchildren, Chase and Charlie; his brother, Charles T. Brannan, Jr. of Maryland; his sisters, Carrie Forrest and Melissa Gibson of Maryland; along with many other family members and friends.

A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 11:30 AM at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church. The family will greet friends on Sunday, April 26, 2026, from 5:00–7:00 PM at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home, 3315 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 1730 Link Road, Winston-Salem NC 27103, or by their website: Our Lady of Mercy - Donate

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hayworth-miller.com