Della Mae Brannam

Della Mae Brannam, age 87 of Batesville died Friday, November 5, 2010 at a Batesville hospital. She was born May 13, 1923 at Oil Trough, Arkansas to Marion and Vader Cook Luellen. She was a cook, having worked for Kelly-Wyatts Restaurant in Batesville, Blondie's Restaurant in Desha and Southside Grill in Southside. In her earlier years she was a foster parent for the State of California where she helped raise 27 children. She enjoyed her birds, dogs, gardening, flowers and cooking. She was a longtime member of the Desha First Baptist Church in Desha.She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Christopher Columbus Brannam Jr., one son Bobby Joe Brannam, three brothers, V. L. Luellen, Leon Luellen and Charles Luellen, two sisters, Ruth Luellen and Lilly Luellen and a granddaughter, Debbie Brannam.Survivors include two sons, Cecil Ray Brannam and wife Mizuho of Tokyo, Japan and Anthony 'Tony' Mesa and wife Debbie of Batesville, seven grandchildren, Ryan Mesa of Batesville, Blair Mesa of Florida, Sydney Mesa of Batesville, Becky Little of Batesville, Taylor Prince of Batesville, Susie Walker of Idaho and Tracy Meges of Idaho, two great grandchildren, Atlannis Little and Jordis Little of Batesville, a special friend, Dorothy Hopper of Batesville, several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.Funeral services will begin Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at the Desha First Baptist Church at Desha with Bro. Troy Sharp officiating. Burial will follow in the Macedonia Cemetery located at Drasco with arrangements by Qualls Batesville Funeral Service of Batesville.Visitation will be Tuesday, November 9, 2010 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Pallbearers will be Taylor Prince, Briston Gould, Lynn Cantrell, Dloyd Sparks, Rodney Harper, Ryan Mesa, Tony Mesa, Gwynne Golden and Billy Cummings.Honorary pallbearers will be Tyler Mize, Daniel Prince and the Adult Senior Ladies Sunday School Class of the Desha First Baptist Church.