Deborah Shirley Brannock's Obituary
Deborah Shirley Sullivan Brannock of Cambridge, an educator, artist, historian, pilot, gardener, sailor, and devoted wife, passed away at Peninsula Regional Medical Center on Saturday, October 7, 2006. She was 80.
She was born on February 13, 1926 in Cambridge, MD daughter of the late Howard J. and Erma S. Sullivan.
Shirley was educated in the public schools of Dorchester County and graduated as valedictorian at Cambridge High School class of 1943. In 1947, Shirley received her BA degree in art education and fine arts from Maryland Institute of Fine Arts and Johns Hopkins University. She continued her studies and masters degree program at Towson University, and then taught art and night courses in the Dorchester County Public School System for thirty-one years. As an artist, her paintings are known nationwide. Her students often stopped her on the streets to tell her how they learned from her of beauty and architecture in our community.
Shirley married Earl Brannock on March 24, 1951 at St. Pauls Church in Cambridge, MD. Shirley and Earl owned four skipjacks and sailed the bay from Cape Charles, VA to Northeast, MD. In 1966, Shirley was the co-organizer for the first workboat race since 1933. Since that time, the Deals Island and Chesapeake Appreciation Days and many other communities have sponsored the races. Her smiling face was always welcomed at many international meetings of International Rotary, Navy League of the US, and many US navy ship reunions. Shirley was one of the organizers and founders of the Dorchester Art Center, Brannock Maritime Museum, Dorchester Educators Art Show and the Dorchester County Showcase. As a pilot, Shirley has flown her aircraft from Texas to Canada, and she was a member of the Amelia Earhart 99 Flying Club.
Her life long support of St. Paul’s Church was quite evident in the many committees she served on and will be sorely missed at St. Paul’s Soup Days. She served a number of years as a member of the Board of Directors at the First Federal Savings and Loan Bank. She was a life member of the US Navy League. In her international travels she was an ambassador of goodwill for her country, her state, and her county, when she breakfasted with the current president and first lady, lunched with the Queen of England and was a guest of honor at a dinner with Prince Rainier and Princess Grace.
She is survived by her husband of fifty-five years, Earl Brannock, close friends to whom she was like a mother; Debbie and Ken Usab, two nephews, Sam Brannock and his wife, Ellie, Thomas Phillips and his wife, Lou, a niece, Carol Brannock, several cousins, Donna Anderson and her husband, Larry, Brenda Knowles and her husband, Wayne, Alan McNaughton, Mrs. Phillip Brohawn, Sr., her second cousin, Phillip Brohawn, Jr. and his wife, Virginia “Cookie” . She was preceded in death by a niece, Helene Brannock Anthony and a nephew, Edwin Phillips.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church in Cambridge with Rev. Dale Brown officiating. Interment will follow at East New Market Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. Serving as pallbearers will be Ken Usab, Glen McNaughton, Dr. Michael T. Brannock, Steve Wilson, Larry Anderson, and Michael McIntee. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Frank Wright, Phillip Brohawn, Jr. “Gook”, Wallace Willey, Jamison Hull, William Deissler, and Sewell Hubbard.
The family has requested that donations be made in Shirley’s memory to St. Paul’s Church, 205 Maryland Avenue, Cambridge, MD 21613 or to the Brannock Maritime Museum, P.O. Box 337, Cambridge, MD 21633.
To share remembrances with the family please visit www.framptom.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Deborah Shirley?
What’s a lesson you learned from Deborah Shirley?
Share a story where Deborah Shirley's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Deborah Shirley you’ll never forget.
How did Deborah Shirley make you smile?