ELGIN – A viewing for Mary Jane Branham will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home. A private graveside service will be held at Fort Jackson National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hope Baptist Church W.O.M. Mary Jane Branham passed to Heaven on June 12th, 2020 after a courageous battle with cancer. She left her beloved husband, Gordon; her daughters, Pam Goff (Floyd), Kathy Schaad (Doug); son Gordon Jr. (Megan); eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren Earth-side. She was born on March 17, 1937 in Lancaster county. She worked at Shakespeare for 27 years and worked for Hallmark for 15 years. Mary Jane was a wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. In fact, you probably recognize her as the sweet lady who spoke to you in line at the grocery store, while you were browsing at a garage sale, during your wait for a table, or when you were looking at Belk. Mary was the epitome of kindness and Southern hospitality and she never met a stranger. If you came to visit (and you definitely did!) you wouldn’t leave without being fed and gifted her delicious homemade jelly. God gave her a heart of service and she was the first person to volunteer, the first person to bring a dish or dessert, the first person to give you a hug, and the first person to cry with you. She had a beautiful smile that always made her eyes sparkle. Mary Jane was a hard worker- she prided herself in doing a good job and always gave her best. She loved her flowers and yard- except the leaves. She did not like the leaves. She worked hard to keep the leaves away, the flowers big and bright, and the hummingbirds coming back- and she never broke a sweat. Mary Jane was so proud of her children and grandchildren. She loved the vacations they took together, the family meals everyone gathered for, and the holiday traditions everyone never missed! She always had the biggest laugh during the traditional Christmas prank, bought all the good candy for the Easter egg hunt, and made a full day of Black Friday shopping. Mary Jane loved the mountains and the beach. She and her husband celebrated their wedding anniversary every year by seeing the fall leaves. She took the children and grandchildren to the beach and made many memories there playing putt putt and shopping! Mary knew that memories and family were more important than things. The treasure is in the time- and she passed this secret on to her family! Through all of this, Mary Jane wanted God to be first in her life. She wanted to serve family, friends, and strangers as a reflection of Him. Her light and heart will be missed here but will continue to shine as the sun. She will get to sing God’s praise in Heaven and be in His glory. Here, we will strive to be a light, a friend, and her legacy.