Ollie Mae Branam

Ollie Mae (Tootsie) Branam, 82, a resident of Ocoee passed away July 6, 2007 after a long illness. She was the daughter of the late Clyde and Mellie Young Bates. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church of IL where she worked as the church clerk, Sunday School Secretary, Sunday school teacher and sang in a quartet for years. She was a devoted wife for 57 years. Mrs. Branam was born in Bradley County but moved to Polk County at an early age. She married in 1941 and moved to Chicago and retired in 1949. In 1984 she returned to Polk County. She enjoyed gardening and cooking and was well known for her Sunday meals. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Rev. Willie "Bill" Branam; daughters: Brenda Deloris Gunter and Paulette Branam; sons: Billy Ray Branam and Joe Dean Branam; sisters: Annie Marten, Mary Sutton; brothers: Joe Bates, Charlie Bates, Willis Bates and Herbert Bates. She is survived by her daughters: Joyce Eaker and Gwendolyn Gravitt both of Ocoee and daughter-in-law, Angelitta Branam of Broomfield, NJ; eighteen grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; sister, Edna Clayton of McDonald; brother, Richard Bates of Cleveland and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with the Reverend David Miller and Reverend T.R. Etheridge officiating. Interment will follow at Dill Cemetery with Bill Tatam, Ted Johnson, Dennis Bates, Steven Branam, Jeremy Grant and Matthew Eaker serving as pallbearers. A white dove release ceremony will conclude the service. Her family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday prior to the service at the funeral home.