Brent Brannon: friend, supporter and all-around great guy
These are the columns you never want to write, but I think it is a fitting way to honor my friend Brent Brannon. In fact, it was him who was always asking me what my next topic was going to be for my column in Saturday’s paper whenever I would see him out at local ballgames or other various places around Calhoun. So to answer his continuous question, this one’s going to be about you, Brent.
I was shocked, saddened and most of all in disbelief on Wednesday morning when I got the news that my friend and one of the biggest supporters of the Calhoun Times sports section there is, Brent Brannon, had passed away suddenly due to a heart attack. I mean, I had just talked to him a little over a week ago about some random sports topic he had called specifically to discuss with me. I think this time it was the ‘Grayson Allen quick return from his tripping suspension’ topic, but that’s just one of the countless conversations we’ve had over the past several years about random things, mostly dealing with sports.
No matter what it was, we would go on for 30 minutes, an hour or longer just shooting the breeze. But one constant whether at the beginning, somewhere in the middle, at the end or all of the above, I can hear his voice saying “you do a great job, man. I love reading your sports section and your column.” That kind of encouragement never fell on deaf ears for me.
I met Brent pretty early on in my time here in Calhoun, and I simply knew him as Dave Stokes’ sidekick on the radio for softball, basketball or baseball games throughout the area. I could tell immediately how great of a guy he was. I would see him at different games and he would always make it a point to talk to me and tell me he appreciated the job I did.
As a matter of fact, I didn’t even know his name for the longest time. It got to the point where it was too late to ask him. I talked to him anyway, and eventually I figured it out. I never told him that, but I’m sure he would get a laugh out of it.
Brent loved college basketball and was always up for a discussion about it, whether it be about his beloved Kansas Jayhawks, my North Carolina Tar Heels or any other team, coach or player in between. In a place where college football is always the main priority, it was great to have someone around who loved college basketball as much as I do.
Every year in March, my heart is 100 percent for the baby blue and white, but I’m going to cheer a little harder this year for the Jayhawks.
Brent was always inviting me to go to Ringgold with him and the ‘C-Town Posse’ to watch semi-pro wrestling. He was always telling me about the best places to eat or get the best deals on food. He was always just there to talk about anything. I’ll miss all those things, but mostly I’ll miss my friend.
Brent was the kind of guy that would help you no matter what you needed. I know in the past few years, he was a caregiver for his parents in declining health. We often discussed how difficult an undertaking that was as the same time he was taking care of his parents, I was doing the same thing with my dad.
He helped out others as well. I know that he helped feed some players on a local football team that weren’t getting a meal when they got home from practice or from school that day. He was a selfless soul and was always trying to see how he could help others over himself.
He loved local high school sports and supported every team no matter if it was Calhoun, Gordon Central or Sonoraville. Ask any local coach that knew Brent, and they will tell you how he encouraged them whenever he talked to them.
This is obviously a tremendously sad time for Brent’s family and friends, but there is something that gives me hope. I know that Brent believed in and loved the same God that I do and was not shy about talking about his faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. As a matter of fact, if you go on his Facebook page, his profile picture is a scripture. It is Psalm 118:6 that says “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.” The Lord was with him before his death here on earth and now he is with the Lord.
I will miss you, Brent. You were a great friend and encourager. And what makes me happy is knowing that I will see you again one day. And I’m sure the first thing I’ll hear when I get up there is “Whaddaya say, Aaaallllll?”
Until then, I will keep you in my mind and heart and remember everything you meant to me and so many others in Calhoun and Gordon County.