The Reverend Dr. Mack Carison Branham, age 94, of Columbia, SC, passed away on November 6, 2025, at his residence with his wife and loving family members nearby.
Dr. Branham was born on April 20, 1931, in Columbia, SC to the late Mack Carison Branham, Sr. and Laura Pauline Sexton Branham. He attended Columbia public schools and graduated from Columbia High School in 1949. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1953 from Clemson College which was then an all-male military school. It was during his years at Clemson that he met his future wife, Jennie Louise Jones. They were married in December the year Mack graduated.
It was in the 1950s that the two major forces of his professional life converged—a career in the Air Force and a career in the church as pastor and chaplain. He was ordained to the ministry in 1958, becoming the pastor of Lutheran Church parishes, Providence and Nazareth, in Lexington, SC. It was the Air Force, however, which would play a major role in where his career would take him and Jennie. Among the places where: Wichita Falls, TX; Columbus, GA; Dayton, OH; San Antonio, TX; Montgomery, AL; Tempe, AZ; Charleston, SC, Chateauroux, France . . . and finally, for Mack, Vietnam. Jennie has said that in their lives together, they’ve lived in over fifty residences.
When Colonel Branham retired from the Air Force in 1979, he joined the staff of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, eventually becoming its president from 1982-1992. Over the years of his military service, he had earned a Master of Divinity degree, a Master of Sacred Theology degree, a Master’s degree in Business Administration, and a PhD in Education and Education Leadership. He was perfectly positioned to lead the Seminary in his decade of tenure there.
When they finally settled again in Columbia after all the years of having lived in faraway places—and with the children all grown, Jennie was able to finish her degree in art at Columbia College. One of Dr. Branham’s proudest moments was to give the invocation at her graduation ceremony and then stand by to support her in her own career as an artist and as Chair of the State Fair Art Exhibitions, President of the Art League in Chapin, SC and Director of the Columbia College Art Gallery.
After his second retirement, there was time for a whole different set of experiences, including the presidency of the Rotary Club of Chapin Sunrise and serving as Governor of Rotary District 7770 during 2005-2006. In addition, there was a return to actual participation in sports. He had run track at Columbia High School, and now as a Senior Olympics participant, he was hauling home trophies for weightlifting, javelin, and shot put.
For a man who led such a busy life, Dr. Branham always had time to be mentor and advisor to those who needed his help. He was definitely the “go to” person for many who sought his calm and thoughtful guidance and reassurance.
Among his hobbies were weightlifting and reading. And the hidden talent most people didn’t know about was his culinary skills! His famous “Mack & Cheese” was always requested—no matter what meal it was . . . and his sour cream pound cakes were legendary. His twenty-three children, grands and great grands speak of him as being “gentle, soft-spoken, and kind.”
Dr. Branham received many awards and honors in his lifetime, among them the Order of the Palmetto from the Governor of South Carolina, Paul Harris Rotary Club Award and an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Newberry College. Also, there was an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from his alma mater, Clemson University.
Dr. Branham is survived by his loving wife of nearly 72 years, Jennie Jones Branham and their four children: Kenneth Gary Branham (Anne) of Greenville, SC; Charles Michael Branham (Teresa) of Vance, SC; Keith Robert Branham (Lisa) of Fairhope, AL; and Laurie Lynn Branham (Pamela Brown) of Shreveport, LA. The ten grandchildren include Alicia Richardson (Derek), Ryan and Matthew Branham; Tony (Erin) and Mark (Ann) Branham; Devon Reinhardt (John) and Kelly Branham; and Joshua, Zachary (Emily), and Jacob (Natalia) Bigby. The nine great grandchildren include Breck and Cohen Richardson; Cole, Anna Kate, Kennedy, Grady, and Hudson Branham; Sophie and Abbie Reinhardt. Also surviving is nephew Rick Barber, great nephews Stephen and Hart Barber, and great niece Marisa Barber. And brother-in-law, C. Robert Jones (Wes Heath) of Mars Hill, NC.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters and their spouses: Dorothy and Bernard Reyman and Caroline and James Barber (and their son Russell Barber.)
On December 5th, Dr. Branham will be laid to rest with Full Military Honors at the National Cemetery at Fort Jackson, SC in a private ceremony with his family.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be at Ebenezer Lutheran Church at 1301 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Reception at 10 AM and Service at 11AM the morning of December 5th, 2025.
The Branham family respectfully requests “In lieu of flowers, that memorial donations be made to Ebenezer Lutheran Church 1301 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201 in honor of Dr. Mack C. Branham Jr”.
