Dorothy Edney Branch

Our beloved wife, sister, aunt, stepmother, and friend, Dorothy (Dottie) Ruth Edney Branch, went to be with the Lord on early Sunday morning, July 17, 2016.

Dottie was the oldest of Muir and Katharine Edney’s three children, born March 3, 1937, in Birmingham, Alabama. The family moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and then to Montgomery in 1945.

She attended Capital Heights and Baldwin Schools in Montgomery and graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1955. She received a Dupont scholarship and attended Auburn University where she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1959, and then a master’s degree in Spanish. She also completed coursework at the University of Madrid in Spain.

In 1962, she traveled to Germany for her sister Peggy’s wedding. She returned to Germany in 1964 for a 30-day camping trip through France and Spain. She moved to Woodland Park, Colorado, around 1968 and taught junior high school in Security near Colorado Springs. In 1970, she took her class to Chihuahua, Mexico.

Around 1974, she moved back to Montgomery and taught school at Wetumpka, St. James, and Sidney Lanier. She also taught courses at Alabama State University.

On December 25, 1983, she married Edward (Buddy) Gachet Branch III, her high school sweetheart.

Dottie will always be known for her unconditional love, encouragement, prayers, and genuine concern for every person she knew. Her close relationship with the Lord, her Christian faith, and her Holy Spirit-led life were a testimony to all. Many people comment that she was the most gentle and loving person they ever knew, and her fun-loving spirit and beautiful smile will always be remembered and missed.

She is preceded in death by her mother Katharine Bedford Edney and her father Muir (“Easy”) Jennings Edney. She is survived by her sister Margaret (Peggy) Bowen Grigg, her brother Muir (Tim) Jennings Edney II, her husband Edward (Buddy) Gachet Branch III, her stepchildren Jim, Ellen, Amalie, and Powell Branch, and her nieces and nephews Kathy Brennan, Chip Edney, Jennings Edney, Mary (Grigg) Zenzen, Alice Grigg, and Margaret (Grigg) Hoffman, as well as many other family members and close friends.

On Saturday, July 23, 2016, a celebration of Dottie’s life will be held at 1:30 p.m. at White Chapel-Greenwood Funeral Home before the 3 p.m. graveside service at Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama. Both services will be officiated by Pastor Walter Albritton.