David Earl Brannen

David Earl Brannen, born to the late Ernest E. Brannen Jr. and the late Betty Ann Henderson Brannen on December 19,1960 in Eatonton, GA, passed away at Piedmont Augusta Hospital on October 30, 2026, with his sister by his side.

After living in Augusta for most of his life (from 1969 to 2011), David moved to Wrens when his health began to fail to be close to his mother and sister.

David was a 1979 graduate of Westside High School, after which he earned his Bachelors’ degree from Augusta University. After working at various jobs, he secured a position with Hillcrest Baptist Church School as a Physical Education teacher, where he worked for 25 years before his health issues forced him to retire.

Always having a great interest in sports, he also became a trainer/manager with the football, baseball and basketball teams at Westside High School. He made many friends in the coaching profession through his 34 years at Westside. David had a big heart and was known as “Big Dave” or “Coach”. If anyone ever had a sports question, David was the “go-to-guy” as they knew he would probably know the answer. David was known to be a collector of Westide shirts , hats and memorabilia—he only had two shirts that did NOT have a Westside logo! After his move to Wrens, whenever he went to Augusta, he would always run into someone who played baseball, foorball or basketball at Westside who knew him.

David enjoyed watching high school and college football, baseball and golf on TV…and, of course, his favorite high school team was Westside and being a huge Auburn fan, his favorite college team was the Tigers/War Eagles. Loving the game of golf and having extensive knowledge of the game, he worked for CBS during Masters week for 20+ years.

David accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at a young age while attending school at Curtis Baptist Church School. After moving to Wrens, he attended Wrens Baptist Church and Wrens Christian Fellowship Church, formerly Wrens United Methodist Church, until his health issues became worse.

Along with his parents, he was also preceded in death by his grandparents, Ruby and Craig Henderson and Bertha and Ernest Brannen Sr.

Those left behind include his sister, Deborah B. Everett (Bob); niece, Laura Everett of Kennesaw; nephew, Christopher Everett of Chanhassen MN; cousins, Jane Smith, Anita Harrelson, Karla Lopez, Julian Wren (Marianne), Kelly Crackel, and Krissi Wren; special friends, Coach Gerald Barnes (Sally) and Joan Dalton (Gene); other extended family and friends.

Services to celebrate David’s life will be held at James Funeral Home at 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon, November 8, 2026, with Rev. Chad Watkins officiating. The family will receive friends after the service.

David was a 6-year fighter of male breast cancer as well as a 15-year dialysis patient. The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the personnel at Davita Thomson Dialysis Center who showed him so much love and compassion.

The family strongly suggests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to the American Kidney Fund—online at kdneyfund.org then the Donate Today tab or by check to American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Ste 300, Rockville MD 20852 OR to the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance—online at mbcglobalalliance.org then the Donate tab or by check to Males Breast Cancer Global Alliance, c/o Cheri Ambrose, 315 Ridgedale Ave, PO Box 211, East Hanover, NJ 07936.