Pastor Robert J. Branch

February 19, 2017 Pastor Robert J. Branch, age 74, of Tanglewood Missionary Baptist Church and husband of Peggy Harris Branch of 112 Teal Rd. Union, went home to be with his Savior and Lord on Saturday, February 18, 2017, after a bout with cancer and other issues Pastor Branch was born in Dadeville, AL, a son of the late Cleveland Jackson and Annie Laura McGee Branch. Surviving in addition to his wife are two sisters, Mary Frances Mixon and Jean Abercrombie and husband Ray all of AL; a number of nieces and nephews and their families. He was predeceased by an infant brother, Johnny Mac Branch. Pastor Branch surrendered to the Gospel Ministry in 1964 while living in Atlanta, GA. He attended Emmanuel Baptist College in Atlanta and Missionary Baptist Seminary and Institute in Little Rock, AR. He is a graduate of Landmark Missionary Baptist Institute in Mauldin, SC. His first pastorate was Howie Mine Baptist Church in Waxhaw, NC. He also pastored in SC, FL, AR and KY. He returned to Union in 1998 to pastor Tanglewood Missionary Baptist Church. He also was Pastor of the church when the present building was constructed in 1972. Brother Branch served as Chaplain for Hospice Care of SC and Blue Ridge Hospice for several years. He was also a member of the Union County Disabilities and Special Needs Board. He served on the Mission Board of the American Baptist Association for five years. His heart was always in helping others, especially missionaries and missions of the American Baptist Association. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the S.R. Holcombe Funeral Chapel conducted by Brother Charles Hutcheson. Burial will following at Union Memorial Gardens. Active pallbearers will be Billy Abercrombie, Joe Abercrombie, Sylane Whitfield, Danny Mize, Paul Sanders, Johnny Abee, Ted Adams and Tony Harris. Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Monday evening at the S.R. Holcombe Funeral Home. The family would like to thank the staff and nurses of Medi Home Hospice and Dr. David Keith for their excellent loving care of Pastor Branch during his illness. Memorials may be to made Tanglewood Missionary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 323, Union, SC 29379. The family is at the home, 112 Teal Rd., Union.