Lenard Ellis Branum was born at his home in Madison County on March 20, 1942, to Nellie Carrie Ann Sisk Branum and Percy William Branum. He passed away peacefully at his home in New Hope, Alabama, on December 20, 2025.
He attended Big Cove School and then Madison County School, where he met his first love, Linda Owens. Lenard and Linda married on April 2, 1960. Shortly after their marriage, Lenard received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost on September 18, 1960, at age 18. This union was blessed with four children. After Linda’s death, he married Runell Knight on September 15, 1979. Lenard and Runell have been happily married for 46 years and were blessed with another child.
Lenard owned and operated Branum Contracting, Incorporated, for over 30 years. He was highly respected in his field and received many awards throughout his career.
Lenard was a longtime member of the Big Cove Free Holiness Church, where he was recognized as an elder and a pillar of the church. God used him as a teacher and healer many times.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 19 years, Linda Jo (Owens) Branum; his son, Barry Lenard Branum; grandsons, Bradley Buckner and Patrick West; great-great-grandson, Brady West; parents, Willie & Nellie (Sisk) Branum; brother, AJ Brannum, and wife, June Brannum; infant brother, John Wortham Branum; and sons-in-law, Dwight Buckner, Rickey West, and Dewayne Henshaw.
He is survived by his second wife of 46 years, Aundra Runell (Knight) Branum; daughters, Donna (Branum) Buckner, Ginger (Branum) West, Penny (Branum) Henshaw, and Deanna (Branum) Manley and husband, John Manley; bonus son, Dwight (Pepe) Pepper; grandchildren, Erin (Buckner) West and husband, Nicholas West, Angela Buckner, Matthew West and wife, Alisha West, Tyler Henshaw, Tyson Henshaw and wife, Heather Henshaw, and Maleah Manley; great-grandchildren, Caleb West and wife, Hannah West, Wyatt West and wife, Carlie West, Luke West and wife, Kiersten West, Hunter West, Ethan Buckner, Briley Henshaw, Brinton Burdette, Sapphire Burdette, Elianna West, Jade Burdette, Tytus Henshaw, Sutton West, Triton Henshaw, Hensley Martin, and Eli Buckner; great-great-grandchildren, Marshall West, Ella West, Natalie West, and Jace West; brother, Ben Brannum and wife, Ruby Brannum; and many very special nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.
Visitation will be Monday 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Big Cove Holiness Church. Services will be held at Big Cove Holiness Church, Tuesday at 2:00 pm with Bro. Nick West and Bro. Mark Warren officiating.
Interment will be in Green Valley Cemetery.
