James Robert Bratton

Jim was born on the 13th of June 1927, in Franklin, Kentucky, the second son of Bessie and John Bratton. The family moved to Nashville where he spent his childhood. After attending Cohn High School, he graduated from Vanderbilt University.

Jim was one of few who served in both the Army and the Navy. He was drafted on the last day of World War II and spent 16 months in Bremerhaven, Germany. Once back at Vanderbilt he joined the Naval Reserve. The Korean War began, and Jim was soon called up to active duty, spending 21 months in the Navy aboard the USS Roanoke.

On departing his second military career, he returned to Nashville and joined Solar Steel Company. While with them he lived in Cincinnati, Detroit, and Chicago, ultimately returning to Nashville. Eventually, he made his way to Birmingham, Alabama, where he was employed by Hannah Steel, and this is where he met his future wife, Mary Haralson. After a six-month courtship, they were married on the 7th of February 1959.

He and a business partner decided to leave Hannah Steel to form a new company: Nashville Steel Corporation. Moving with his wife and twin baby girls, Elizabeth and Carrie, the young family resided in Nashville for 12 years. The twins were later joined by John Wallace and Mary Grace.

In 1972, the Brattons moved to Houston where he and his partner had decided to build a second plant, and thus White Star Steel was formed.

Though not a native Texan, Jim lived in Texas for 47 wonderful years and considered himself almost a native son.

A long-time member of the Rotary Club of Houston, Jim was so proud of their efforts in building the Rotary House International and his work on the scholarship committee. Jim and Mary were committed members of St. Philip Presbyterian Church for 45 years, where he served as a deacon.

His love of travel was profound having visited all 50 states and over 100 countries, often traveling with his good friends from their Tynewood neighborhood. The only thing that exceeded his love of travel was his love for his family.

Jim is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary; his 4 children: Elizabeth Bratton, Carrie Pepi (Al), John Bratton (Kelly), and Mary Grace Carter (David); and his 8 grandchildren: George Pepi (Krissy), Bennett Pepi, Wallace Pepi, Jeff Derrett, Eleanor Carter, Jack Carter, Grayson Bratton, and Elizabeth Bratton.

The family would like to recognize and extend their enormous gratitude to the nurses and aides at the Hallmark Skilled Nursing Center for their kind and compassionate care.

A memorial service and celebration of life is to be conducted at half-past eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 7th of September, at St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 4807 San Felipe Street in Houston, where the Rev. Keatan King, Associate Pastor, will officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family at a venue on the church grounds which will be announced during the services.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Mr. Bratton’s name be directed to the Rotary House International/Jesse H. Jones Rotary House, 1600 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030; or to the Star of Hope Mission; 4848 Loop Central Dr., Suite 500, Houston, TX, 77081.