John Kenneth Brantley
February 8, 1942 ~ April 3, 2024
Marietta Southern Funerals & Cremations
John Kenneth Brantley passed away peacefully at 7:05pm on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at the age of 82 years. Born in 1942 in Austell, GA to Hudson Lee Brantley and Evelyn Jackson Brantley. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Linda Hendrick Brantley, brothers Michael Lee (Lynn) Brantley and Dennis Edward (Laurie) Brantley, and his sister Dorothy Kay Brantley.
Lovingly remembered by his 6 children, Jeanette (James Wade) Smith, John Kenneth (Leigh) Brantley, Jr., Candyon Robinson, Brandyon (Page) Brantley, Summer (Steven) Osborn, and Holly (Nathaniel) Hymer, as well as 20 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Kenneth retired after 36 years with the Federal Aviation Administration in 1998, but continued to passionately pursue many interests after retirement including extensive genealogy work and publications, investing in real estate, and flying charter planes as a private jet pilot. He founded and directed The Brantley Association of America with 300+ members and traveled the United States and England to further his genealogical research, experiencing many miracles along the way. Kenneth published 3 books centered around his historical findings and freely shared his research through the Brantley Association's website.
Kenneth delighted in hard work and a good challenge. He found great joy in counseling and leading his wife, children and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family, his LDS church community, and his network of fellow genealogy enthusiasts.
Visitation will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Powder Springs on April 9, 2024, 11:30 - 12:30. Service to follow immediately after visitation.
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I’ve known Kenneth and the Brantleys most of my life from growing up on Factory Shoals and Gordon Roads in Mableton. Also from attending Mt. Pisgah Baptist on S. Gordon. Kenneth was 5 years older and was one of my football heroes at South Cobb in the late 50s. The 50s and early 60s were a great time to grow up in S Cobb County. Fond memories of those days and people. Though I’ve only talked to Kenneth once in these last 60 years (2021) I know he had a productive life in his profession and with his family. Now he flies the Friendly Skies of the Heavenly Realm. Sincere condolences to his Family. RS, Stan Jones
“I am deeply sorry for your loss. May cherished memories bring you comfort during this difficult time.”
We love you and miss you!
Love and prayers from the Brantley cousins in Montgomery Alabama
We will always cherish our memories with Ken and the Brantley Family. With heartfelt condolences.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. David and Alyssa Brantley Lisa and Jeff Labus
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The brevity of this obituary belies the far-reaching impact, both in distance and in time, that John Kenneth Brantley (Ken) has made to genealogical research. In 2009, for the love of family, Ken single-handedly developed a two-camera system, made from hardware store items, with which he was able to photograph more than 55,000 pages of our pre-1880 County’s historic records. Ken then organized local volunteers to index every name appearing among the text. Ken, with the tech help of his son-in-law, was able to post both the page images and an index of names on the Internet, insisting only that they be freely accessible to all. The site developed by Kenneth Brantley has received national acclaim and attention and remains the best search tool available to those with family having early connections with Southampton County, Virginia. Prior to Ken’s search tool, it was practically impossible to search family genealogy involving non-whites prior to the Civil War. Ken’s hard work and dedication will serve thousands for years to come. I will miss him deeply. Richard Francis, Clerk Southampton VA Circuit Court.