Homer Brannon

Homer Brannon was born August 26, 1943, the third of ten children born to Mose and Ozzie Bell Brannon. His family lived on the Southside of Jacksonville where Homer attended and graduated from Douglas Anderson High School in 1962. While attending Douglas Anderson he played in the band, ran track and played several sports, his favorite being football. He often spoke with pride and admiration about his coaches, Coach Hair and Coach Nathaniel Washington. The Brannon family held membership at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church on the Southside for many years. Homer and his siblings were active in many areas of the church as they grew up in Mt. Zion.

After graduating from Douglas Anderson High School, Homer attended Jones College to study Business. He worked at Daylight Grocery Store on the Southside and then on Myrtle Avenue where he had started working while in high school.

In 1967, like many young men of that time, Homer was drafted into the United States Army during the height of the Vietnam War. He served in the special unit known as the Long-Range Recon Patrol (LRRP’s). He was extremely proud of being the leader of a six-man team that prepared the way for the larger troop of soldiers to enter enemy territory more safely. With pride he would say his team made many trips into enemy territory and he never lost a man.

After serving his assigned time in the armed services, he returned home, and with his brother, Hubert, opened a novelty and photography store near the Gateway Shopping Center. When he heard that Amtrak was hiring, he applied and began his almost twenty years career of On-Board Service with Amtrak. It was on one of his Amtrak trips that he met his wife, Bonnie, by assigning her the seat directly in front of his seat. At his death, they had been married forty-two years. To this union, they were blessed with three sons, Homer Jerron, Justin and Jonathan. An automobile accident while returning home from an Amtrak trip, ended Homer’s employment with Amtrak. Homer, Bonnie and family joined Greater Grant Memorial AME Church in 2002 where he attended regularly as his health allowed.

Homer Brannon transitioned from this earthly life on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, following a brief hospital stay. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mose and Ozzie Bell Brannon; two brothers, Mose Brannon, Jr. and Charles Brannon; and one sister, Hazel Walbey Polke.

Homer is survived by his wife of forty-two years, Alpha Smith Brannon “Bonnie”; four sons, H. Jerron Brannon, Justin Brannon, Jonathan Brannon (Belicia) and Keith Thompson (Dorothy); one daughter, Magdalena Sermon "Precious"; eleven grandchildren, Justin, Tyler, Jonathan, Ravynn, Jazlyn, Keshawn, Keilee, Drameko, LaSheba, Tyreek and Clarissa; three godsons, Alphonso McClendon, J’Aaron James and Melvin Webber;  four brothers, Hubert Brannon (Florence), John Terry Brannon (Dolores), David Brannon and Ozzie Garrey Brannon (Olga); two sisters, Mary Bartley and Betty Brown (Cleophis); two brothers-in-law, Gregory Denmark and Alfred Williams; two sisters-in-law, Angela Smith of Miami Gardens, Florida and Constance Brannon; special friends, The Jackson Family; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Sarah L. Carter's Funeral Home Northside is serving the Family.

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