DeeJay’s full and rich life began in Grand Junction, CO with her parents, Carl Jerome and Onalee Kelley Brandon. After her mother tragically died, she and her younger brother, Carl Jr, moved with their father and stepmother, Nellie Margaret McMillen Brandon, to DeLand, FL. Music was a huge influence in her early years with many memories of aunts, uncles, and parents playing instruments. DeeJay played the bass fiddle in high school and formed a women’s only pop music band and even twirled her bass for added showmanship!
DeeJay attended Stetson University and met her husband, Ralph Everett Stults, while both of them were volunteering at her church. Their friendship turned into a partnership of ministry and marriage for almost 70 years. They married in 1942 after Ralph joined the U.S. Navy and moved to New York City where he helped provision the soon to be commissioned USS Bon Homme Richard aircraft carrier while DeeJay explored the fun of the 40s in the Big Apple.
After World War II, the couple moved to Fort Worth, TX to train and begin formal work in ministry, later serving in churches in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, and Hawaii. Everywhere they went life-long friendships were made and from Oklahoma to Georgia the Stults’ increased to a family of eight! DeeJay’s days were filled with raising children, working in her church, mentoring younger women, consistently engaging in missions, and encouraging others. She began working outside her home teaching preschool in Albany, GA and later worked for the Bibb County Board of Education. How excited she was to retire in 1989 so that she and Ralph could move to Honolulu, Hawaii to volunteer at yet another church, Nuuanu Baptist Church!
DeeJay and Ralph returned to Macon, GA in 1992 but never stopped helping churches and sharing the love of Jesus to their sphere of influence. When Ralph died in 2012, DeeJay turned her attention to her community at The Cottages at Wesleyan sharing crafts, friendship, and the love of Jesus.
DeeJay is now in her eternal home and leaves behind a large family legacy of children: Carl (AnnaLee) Stults of Colorado Springs, CO, Cindy (Tim) Brown and Cheryl Sjoquist of Macon, GA, Lynn (Paul) Reaves of Statesboro, GA, Lisa Plunkett of Jefferson, GA, and Barbara (Bob) Magruder of Brandon, FL.; grandchildren: John (Alisha) Stults, Sarah Zacarias, Todd (DaRae), Kevin (Melina), and Amy Brown, Elizabeth (Larry) McCollum, Charles (Faithanne) and Cale (Emma) Stich, Chad (Angie) Sjoquist, Brandon (Katie), Ben, and Andrew Reaves, Ean, Noel and Levi Plunkett, and Everett, Addison and Jackson Hobbs, Comma Matthew, Micah and John Mark Magruder; and twelve great-grandchildren.
DeeJay’s family will receive friends at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at Mount Zion Baptist Church prior to the Celebration of Life service at 11:00AM officiated by the Rev. Andy Oxford. Memorial contributions can be made to the Women’s Missionary Union Foundation Vision Fund, 100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, AL 35242.
Visit www.snowsmacon.com to express tributes.
Snow's Memorial Chapel, Cherry St. has charge of the arrangements.