Bransford "Brande" Holloway Watson

Bransford "Brande" Holloway Watson, age 91 of Dayton, passed away Saturday, January 11, 2025 after a brief illness. He was born February 24, 1933 in Richmond, Virginia, son of the late Professor Andrew P. and Lena Watson. His parents inspired and encouraged him to accomplish his goals and pursue his dreams. Brande earned his MBA from the University of Texas & his Bachelor's degrees from Texas College, University of Pittsburgh and University of Oklahoma. He had a long career in education, teaching on both high school and collegiate levels. Brande was a pioneer for the Healing Racism Dialogue program and extended it to communities around the country. He also promoted Americans All, a history series that illustrated the oneness of the human family. He coached the Wiley College debate team in Marshall, Texas (the movie, 'The Debaters' with Denzel Washington, was about the earlier years of the famous Wiley College debate team, in which his father Professor Andrew P. Watson, Sr. was involved). Brande was a Professor at Central State University and also taught French in the Dayton Public Schools. He served his community in a number of ways by serving on the Regional Board of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, by being an Industrial Consultant for the Texas Commission on Alcoholism and Community Relations, and by serving as an Assistant at the U.S. Department of Justice, during school integration in Texas to name a few. He also served as Dean of the Louis Gregory Baha'i Institute in South Carolina and was a member of the Baha'i National Teaching Committee. Brande worked as a District Patrol Officer in Houston, Texas. He was very well travelled and completed a lecture tour in Siberian Russia, was a participant in the Second Baha’i World Congress and took several Baha’i pilgrimages to Haifa, Israel. He was once Ebony Magazine's Most Eligible Bachelor. Brande was a Double Sprint Champion in the NAIA competition, Debate Team and Track Team Captain at Texas College. Brande was also a private pilot, theater actor, motorcyclist, lecturer, singer and writer who enjoyed classical music. Brande most recently finished and published a book titled "The Declaration of Interdependence” which can be ordered online. He was passionately involved in his Baha'i Faith community. Brande advocated and worked to promote the oneness of humanity and race unity until the end. He touched many lives and will be dearly missed by family and friends all over the world.

Brande is survived by his Daughter, Brenda Lemon Oliver; Granddaughters, Eleanor V. Oliver, and Cicely E. Oliver; and Grandsons, Daniel N. Oliver, and Gerald Lee Oliver II, 12 great-children, numerous nieces and nephews and friends around the world.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Andrew and Claude, and wife, Evelyn L. Watson.

Funeral Service will be held on January 16, 2025 at 11:00 am at Newcomer Funeral Home - Centerville (820 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd., Dayton, Ohio 45459). Visitation will be from 10:00AM until the time of the service at 11:00AM. To share a memory of Brande or leave a special message for his family, please visit the Guestbook below.