Darnell Lavern Brawner

Born in 1920 to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brawner in Mt. Hill, Georgia. He was educated in LaGrange, Ga., in the public school system. He attended Mercer University and graduated in 1941 with an AB degree. He was a Senior Biology Lab instructor. He was the president of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity, member of Blue Key National Honor Society and member of Pan Hellenic Society. He received his MD at Emory University School of Medicine (1944). He was the president of his senior class. He performed his internship at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Ga.

He served as a captain in the Army at Fort Taylor in Key West, Florida. He served as the chief OB/GYN at Fort Jackson, S.C. He received a Navy Commendation Letter, Key West General Navy Hospital. He also received an Army Commendation Medal as a resident OB/GYN at Fort Jackson. He worked at Grady Memorial Hospital from 1948-1951.

Dr. Brawner practiced as an OB/GYN in Savannah, Ga., from 1951 until his retirement in 1995. He delivered more than 20,000 babies in his career. He served as president of the GA Medical Society and GA OB/GYN Society, as well as serving on the Candler medical staff.

His civic accomplishments include serving as the president of the Chatham County Board of Education for five years and the president of the Interveners in its fight against forced busing. He was the recipient of the Gillinat Trophy for Education and the Oglethorpe Award for Civil Service.

He was an avid gardener, rose grower and when he retired, he farmed 50 acres of cut flowers. He was an enthusiastic tennis player and skier for 50 years. In his later years, he was a devoted, but mediocre, golfer. He was a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church. Later in life, he became an advocate of deism.

He is survived by his wife, Woody; six children, Lem, Tuck, Dede, Sarah, Darnell, Lee Lee; and a stepson, Tate Shiver; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

It is his request that there be no formal funeral service.

Hodges-Moore Funeral Home.

Please visit our online memorial at www.hodgesmoore.com to sign the guestbook and share your thoughts and fond memories with the Brawner family.