Reverend Charles Braneff, Sr., 79, of DeQuincy, Louisiana went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, April 16, 2015 at Christus St. Patricks Hospital in Lake Charles. He was born in Port Arthur, Texas on March 6, 1936 to Ira and Gracie Colman Braneff.
Brother Braneff was raised in Vidor and recieved the Holy Ghost at Sister Mildred DeVille's church at the age of 21. He started evangelizing in 1957 and in 1963 he began his first pastorate in Robeline, Louisiana. He pastored his second church in Gist, Texas for six and a half years. After leaving Gist, he evangelized for the next four years before taking his third church in Singer, Louisiana.
In 1973 he resigned his church and moved to DeQuincy. Feeling led of God to start a church in DeQuincy, he rented a building and started holding services on September 25, 1977. They stayed there for the next ten years. They then moved to the west side of town, purchased land and built a church that would seat 550 people. He remained as pastor of the First Apostolic Church until he retired in November 2014. At that time, his son, Charles Braneff, Jr., took over as pastor of the church and the church was renamed Westgate.
Brother Braneff is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Lou Ellen Russell Braneff; sons, Charles Braneff, Jr. of DeQuincy and Daryl Braneff of McAllen; his brothers, Henderson Braneff and Estil Braneff of Vidor, Robert Braneff of DeQuincy; his sisters, Willie Lee Truelock of Campbellsville, Kentucky, Maggie Bloomfield of Buna, Ellen Gilmore of Sacramento, California and Jean Gould of Vidor; three grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Thomas Braneff.
His Homegoing Celebration will be Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 3:00 P.M. at Westgate Church (First Apostolic Church) 1599 West 4th, DeQuincy, Louisiana 70633. The family will recieve friends from 5:00 p.m.until 9:00 p.m. Saturday at the church. His interment will be in DeQuincy Memorial Park in DeQuincy under the direction of Farmer Funeral Home in Silsbee.
