Brandon Keith Valentine

Brandon was baptized as a baby, but he accepted Christ at an early age at Mt. Zion First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was baptized by Rev. Theodore J. Jemison. It was at home and at Mt. Zion where he received his early Christian training. He and his sister were raised with Christian values that have sustained them into adulthood.

While still an infant living in California with his family, Brandon’s dad, a computer scientist with IBM Corporation, was reassigned to IBM in Cape Canaveral, Florida where his sister, Regina Alane, was born in nearby Rockledge, Florida. The family resided in Cape Canaveral until 1968 when his dad was reassigned again to Lexington, Kentucky.

While in Lexington, Brandon began his formal education at Breckinridge Elementary School. The family remained in Kentucky until 1974. His mother relocated with him and his sister to her home-town of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Brandon continued his for-mal education in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. He earned his high school diploma at Baton Rouge Magnet High School in 1982. After high school, Brandon matriculated at Southern University and A & M College where he majored in Computer Science. Brandon graduated from Southern in December, 1987. He loved his alma mater, most especially the “Human Jukebox” Marching Band, and he attended games on a regular basis whenever he could. Most recently, he attended the Bayou Classic in New Orleans in November of last year.

After graduation, he was immediately hired by Texas Instruments as a Computer Programmer. This is when he first fell in love with Texas. He later earned a Master of Science Degree in May 2003 in Software Engineering at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Brandon’s career in computer science spanned several decades with several IT companies including IBM, Lockheed-Martin, and others. His last employer, at the time of his death, was with eQ Technologic.

Between work and church, Brandon’s passion was aviation and travel. Every chance he had, he was booking a trip to go somewhere. He would often plan trips for himself and the family months in advance when no one else was even contemplating travelling. He collected model planes, and was in the beginning stages of starting his own model airplane business.

Brandon was beloved by everyone. He never met a stranger. He had a personality larger than life itself---always “the life of the party”, always “on stage.” All he needed was an audience. We will miss his wonderful sense of humor, his big smile, and his loving spirit. He was a delight to know and love as well.

Brandon’s church membership here in Texas was at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Dr. Tony Evans, Sr. Pastor. Brandon loved the Lord. He loved his church, and he loved his pastor. His Christian journey continued throughout his lifetime until the Lord called him home on Monday, January 10, 2022. His conversations were often interspersed with scriptures, and it was not at all unusual for him to ask a total stranger on a plane, at work, or wherever he might be, if he or she was a Christian. He would let his light shine wherever he went. His family is very comforted knowing that he knew and loved the Lord.

Brandon is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Edgar Louis Thomas, (Mattie P.) and Melba S. Simmons (Milton C.); and paternal grandparents, Samuel L. Hamberry and Juanita G. Hamberry.

He will be greatly missed by his father, Henry H. Valentine, his mother, Gaynell T. Johnson and step-father, Walter L. Johnson, Sr.; his sisters, Regina Alane Valentine, Kimber Leigh Valentine, and Mackenzie R. Valentine; step-brothers, Walter L. Johnson, Jr., and Erik D. Johnson (Crystal), nephew, Shawn Solomon, his Uncle, Michael C. Simmons, and his Uncle and Aunt, Reginald and Julia Valentine, step-grandmother, Theresa Johnson, and aunt, Yolanda Bolden.

Brandon leaves behind numerous cousins, friends, and other relatives who loved him dearly, including his best friend and college schoolmate, James Brooks, and friend and neighbor, Princy Mehta. He leaves an enormous void in all our lives.