Jean Clarahan Bratton

Jean Clarahan Bratton (June 17, 1918-Nov. 4, 2010) Jean Clarahan Bratton died at home of cancer on Nov. 4, 2010. A memorial service will be held at the Emory United Methodist Church on Friday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. Ms. Bratton was born to Charles H. Clarahan and Amanda Capehart Clarahan on June 17, 1918, in Oak Park, Ill. She graduated from Sewanhaka High School, Floral Park, N.Y., in 1936. She attended William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Va., where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board, Kappa Alpha Theta, and the All-Sorority Basketball Team. She graduated first in her class in 1940. She completed a Master of Arts degree in history at Clark University, Worcester, Ma., in 1941. On Feb. 28, 1942, she married Francis H. Bratton of Elkton, Md. They had three children, Anne, Daniel, and Christine. Mr. Bratton died on Sept. 17, 1975. After living in Floral Park, Newark, Del., Le Roy, N.Y., Cincinnati, Northfield, Minn., Marion, Va., and Wilmette, Ill., during her marriage, she moved to Emory after her husband's death. Ms. Bratton worked as a secretary and administrative assistant for many years, most recently to the president of Emory & Henry College, Emory, Va. She retired in 1990 and stayed in Emory, flourishing there in the midst of friends, activities, cultural pursuits, organizations, and bridge games. She was a member of the Emory United Methodist Church, Smyth County Library Board, College-Community Club, Appalachian Peace Education Center (APEC), and book and bridge groups. Her special interests were brisk walks, politics, reading, travel, opera, and bridge. All who knew her will remember her bright smile, keen intelligence, lively wit, insatiable curiosity, amazing energy, unobtrusive kindness, and quiet determination. She ate not the bread of idleness (Proverbs 31: 27). She cherished her husband, loved her family and friends, spoke her mind, showed tolerance, and lived by her principles. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brothers, Charles H. Clarahan Jr.; Lewis A. Clarahan, Burton Clarahan, and Glenn Clarahan. Survivors include daughter Anne Fairbanks of Hastings, Neb.; son, Daniel Bratton and daughter-in-law Karen Seashore of Minneapolis; daughter, Christine Bratton and son-in-law John Barnard of Brooklyn, N.Y.; granddaughter, Liz Creech and grandson-in-law Lance Creech of Hastings; granddaughter, Cathy Fairbanks of San Francisco; and great-grandsons, Christian Creech and Connor Creech of Hastings. The family wishes to thank Kris Tracy for her professional guidance and care for our mother through her illness, as well as Hospice of Southwest Virginia and the caregivers who made all the difference during her last weeks, Marie Buttry, Gaylene Reynolds, and Isa Wright. Memorials may be given to the Emory & Henry College Scholarship Fund, Habitat for Humanity; Virginia Rail Solutions; or the donor's choice.