Luther "Joe" Joseph Braswell

Luther Joseph (Joe) Braswell was born in Winfield, Alabama, on October 27, 1931 to Mertie Bell Earnest Braswell and Joseph Luther Braswell and was their third child. The family moved to Birmingham and lived in West End where Joe attended Elyton School and West End High School and graduated in the spring of 1949.

Following graduation he joined the Alabama Air National Guard in 1951. His unit was called to active duty during which time he spent time in Alaska. On his return he married his high school sweetheart Bettie Ruth Sorrells Braswell on January 10, 1952. Their marriage was blessed by two sons, Reid Braswell and Alan Braswell. The family lived in the College Hills neighborhood of Birmingham and later moved to Rocky Ridge.

While in the Guard Joe attended night school and earned a degree in accounting from Howard College, now Samford University.

During his Guard service Joe dutifully climbed the ranks to become Lieutenant Colonel in the Alabama Air National Guard and retired in 1985. Joe had been offered Full Colonel position in Washington D.C. which he declined to stay in Birmingham.

Following his honorable discharge and retirement, he oversaw control and operations of the Base Exchange (BX) and gas station at the Alabama Air National Guard.

Joe is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 50 years Bettie Ruth Sorrells Braswell, his parents Mertie Bell Earnest Braswell and Joseph Luther Braswell, and two of his siblings, Faye Braswell Walker and Earnest Lee Braswell.

ANG Lt. Col. Joe Braswell (Ret.) is survived by one brother James Bryce Braswell and two sons Reid Braswell and Alan Braswell (spouse Rosa Selgado Braswell) and granddaughter Betzy Braswell Medaris and her spouse. Joe will be missed by many nephews and nieces. He loved his country and was proud to serve it.

Graveside services for family only will be held Wednesday, December 16, at Southern Heritage cemetery in Pelham, AL.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making memorial donations to a charity of your choice or to one of these: American Village, Montevallo, AL; Alzheimer’s Association; American Parkinson's Disease Association; or Operation Smile Train.