Elvis Denby Brandon Jr.

FUNERAL HOME

Memphis Funeral Home - Poplar

5599 Poplar Ave

Memphis, Tennessee

Elvis Brandon Obituary

Elvis Denby Brandon, Jr.

Memphis, TN

Elvis Denby Brandon, Jr. passed away on August 19, 2016 at Allen Morgan Nursing Center at Trezevant Manor. He was born on November 28, 1927 in Sheridan, Arkansas to Elvis Denby and Hazel Davidson Brandon. Denby graduated from Memphis Tech High School in 1945 where he was Class President, Salutatorian and Lt. Col. in ROTC. He was also the State Extemporaneous Speaking Champion and a member of the winning team in the State Debating Championship. In 1950, Denby graduated with Honors in Philosophy from Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College) a Phi Beta Kappa, member of The Hall of Fame, and Student Body President. He did graduate work at Yale and Duke Universities, receiving a Master of Arts from Duke in 1952.

Denby returned to Memphis and became the Producer-Moderator of "Your Future Unlimited", a weekly career guidance show on WMC-TV which ran from 1952 until 1957. The show won numerous awards including the Sylvania TV Award for "The Best Locally Produced Education Series In the Nation." Also in 1952 he, along with his father, formed Denby Brandon Organizations, now Brandon Financial Planning. He earned three professional degrees: The Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). He was a member and Past Chairman of the original CFP Board of Governors and served as the first Chairman of the CFP International Council. In 2007, Denby received the P. Kemp Fain, Jr. Award for outstanding contributions to the financial planning profession. He co-authored "The History of Financial Planning", the first comprehensive history of the Financial planning profession. He is listed in "Who's Who In America." He and his wife Helen are members of Idlewild Presbyterian Church. In addition, he taught an Adult Bible class for over 45 years, most recently at Shady Grove Presbyterian Church.

Denby married Helen Holt Deupree, his wife of 63 years, on April 25, 1953. They have two sons, Denby Brandon III (Sarah) and Ray Brandon (Dana) who continue the family firm. Denby and Helen are also the proud grandparents of Elizabeth Barker (Jeff), William Brandon, Mary Brandon, Emma Brandon and Ben Brandon. He also leaves his sister-in-laws, Carolyn Deupree of Metairie, LA and Nati Deupree of Branford, CT, and cousins, Shirley Morrison (Ray) of Rison, AR, Diane Adams (Dan) of Champaign, IL and Jerry Davidson (Susan) of Farmngton, CT.

Visitation will be Monday August 22nd from 5:00 to 7:00 at Memphis Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at Idlewild Presbyterian Church at 11:00 on Tuesday August 23rd . In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rhodes College, the Trezevant Foundation or the charity of the donor's choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Commercial Appeal from Aug. 21 to Aug. 22, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Elvis Brandon

7 Entries

Paul Mostert

August 30, 2016

Denby and I became close friends in our first week of high-school at Memphis Technical High when, by chance, we happened to find ourselves taking the same classes. I was his debate partner through our three years at Tech and was the other recipient of the championship medals. He was, by far, the better orator. We spent virtually all of our time together preparing for those debates, but also in long discussions about religion, politics, philosophy, and in sports. I spent a lot of time in his home, his parents serving as wonderful examples of how to conduct a family. We were rivals to some degree in ROTC, I winning the Outstanding Cadet award and he becoming the Lieutenant Colonial (commander of the Battalion) and I the Major (second in command); he was Salutatorian, and I one of five Honor Graduates (behind the Valedictorian and Salutatorian). We remained the closest of friends our entire lives, as close as brothers. His loss is to me equally as grievous and creates an emptiness that cannot be filled.

August 29, 2016

I am so sorry for your loss. I hope Jer. 29: 11,12 brings you some comfort during this difficult time.

Horace and Elizabeth Houston

August 23, 2016

Our family always admired Denby and were privileged to be in his Sunday School class at Shady Grove Presbyterian. His wit, wisdom and positive outlook and faith made a lasting impact on our lives. We were blessed to have known him.

John Charles and Susan Wilson

August 22, 2016

i am privileged to have grown up knowing and watching the life of this very fine, loving, and generous man. As a little girl I would sneak into my parents' Sunday School class where Denby was teaching. I knew when he finished I could have a donut, the highlight of Sunday morning for me then.
What I will always remember from those earliest days in my life to now is Denby's towering and positive outlook on life. I never saw or heard anything negative come from this man, and that will always be the most powerful witness of his faith to me.
John Charles( Bubba) and I pray that his legacy will comfort Aunt Helen, Denby III, Ray, and all the family in the days to come. God bless his wonderful family,
Susan Hall Wilson.

Randy Orr

August 22, 2016

What an incredible loving giant of a man has passed! My wife and I had the privilege of meeting Denby after a presentation he made to the Memphis Society of Association Executives in (I think) 1990 - 1991. He talked about the importance of financial planning and said "even if you think you do not have two nickels to rub together, you should develop a financial plan. He offered to sit down and talk about individual situations. Once we met Denby and his team (including his son, Ray,) we became clients ... but also became friends. The Brandon family has been there for us and also celebrates developments in our lives. To the entire Brandon family .. I celebrate the life of this incredible man ... I know you miss him ... My prayer is that God will fill that huge void with His loving care and with precious memories of your special moments with him. May peace be yours this day.

August 21, 2016

My big brother in SAE and an inspiration throughout the years, I shall miss his smiling face.

I am making a contribution to Rhodes College in his name.

John Fisher Gratz, Jr., M.D.

OLIVER WELCH

August 21, 2016

DENBY WAS A MAN OF INTEGRITY , STRONG ETHIC,DEVOTED FAMILY MAN AND A VERY CLOSE FRIEND. HE WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS ALWAYS GIVING BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY. HE WAS A LEADER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNING PROFESSION . HE WAS ONE OF THE INITIAL FIVE MENBERS OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE CERTIFIED FINANANCIAL PLANNERS BOARD OF STANDARDS.HE DEVOTED MANY HOURS OF HIS TIME TO THE BOARD.I HAD THE PRIVEDLEGE OF BEING THE CO-AUTHOR WITH HIM IN WRITING THE FIRST BOOK ON THE HISTORY OF THE FINANCIAL PLANNING PROFESSION. WE REMAINED FRIENDS AND WERE IN REGULAR TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER TO THE END. HE WAS A GREAT BOOSTER OF MINE. I TREASURE HIS FRIENDSHIP AND WILL NEVER FORGET THE GOOD TIMES WE HAD TOGETHER.

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