Nettie R. Brantley

On May 17, 1923, in West Palm Beach, Florida, Pleasant Bailey (Nee Butler) and Ben Bailey gave birth to a baby girl, “Nettie Ree”.  She was the second oldest of four siblings.  As her mother once said, “ the last button on Gabriel’s Shirt.”

This baby grew to become a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grand-mother, great-grandmother and great-great grand-mother. Nettie donned different hats in her lifetime,  …. mentor, loving, caring friend, mother figure, and motivator.  She made a difference in the lives of those who had the privilege and the “good fortune” to meet and know her.

Nettie was educated in the West Palm Beach Public School System. Early in her adult life, she was employed as a garment worker for many years. There was no job from which she shirked and she was never afraid of work. After retirement, she continued in all spheres of her life to be a generous and visible role model to family and friends.

Nettie accepted the Lord early in life. She served faithfully a member of Second Baptist Church for more than Fifty (50) years.

Nettie met David Brantley and from this union David Brantley, Dorothy Lee and Bennie were born. In the Nineteen Forties (1940’s) David and Nettie moved from St. Petersburg, Florida to Asbury Park to live and raise a family.

Her younger sister Ollie M. Parker and husband Will B. Parker moved to Asbury Park at the same time. With the exception of Nettie’s brief residency in St. Petersburg, Ollie and Nettie have been inseparable sister and friends throughout their lives.  They were the original “ Pete and Re-Pete” and for those of you older enough to remember -- “Heckle and Jeckle.”  Nettie was affectionately referred to as ‘Mom”.

 Nettie was a great cook and loved making meals for her family and friends. She baked her sister Ollie a coconut cake every year for her birthday, “without fail”. Ollie really did not care too much for coconut cakes … but as a loving sister… ate coconut cake on every birthday.  Years after having her fill of coconut cakes, Ollie finally told her loving sister that she really did not like coconut cake. That year was the last coconut cake Nettie baked for Ollie; but it was not the last year or last conversation they had about her years of baking coconut cakes. Nettie also loved to travel.

She was always there for her family… in good times and in less than merry times. She showed them unboundless unconditional love and when the occasion called for it, an unreserved, no holds barred chastisement devoid of any kind of embellishment or diplomatic niceties. During David, Dorothy and Bennie’s formative years, Nettie did not spare the rod to spoil the child. David and Bennie, her surviving children, each have their own anecdotal stories of Mom’s unique disciplinary principles.

Nettie taught her children to never settle for less, but to always strive because life’s possibilities are limitless. Virtues such as hard work, excellence, honesty, fairness, the dignity of labor and respect for elders were very often taught, reinforced and rewarded at home.

She was predeceased by her parents, Ben and Pleasant Bailey; husband, David Brantley; daughter, Dorothy Lee; brother, William Bailey; and sister, Rosebud Drayton.

Nettie leaves to cherish her memory; her two sons, David Brantley, Esq. (Sherry), and Bennie Brantley; loving sister, Ollie M. Parker; niece, Willie Mae Marable (Robert); grandchildren, Dr. David Brantley, III, (Shastra) Shawn Merridith, Derek Anthony Brantley, Shelia Henderson, Wanda Henderson, Jared Romel Martin, Amina Ayana Brantley, Amin Zahir Brantley, and Jannah Amira Brantley;  special and loving friends, Thelma Anderson, Addie Davis, Robert Warren, James Wise; and a host of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

Your time on earth seemed all to brief because we wanted you in our lives forever. And although we really miss you, in our hearts we know that you are at peace. Still, countless times throughout the day we find ourselves remembering you. Although we cannot see or hear you, we know that you are with us. We’ll feel you in the warmth of the summer sun. We’ll see you in the brilliance of autumn leaves. You’ll be beside us in the peacefulness of a gentle snowfall and rejoice with us at the emergence of the first flowers of spring. We’re thankful for the times we shared and the priceless memories too; for those memories are a comfort now when we lovingly – Remember You. 

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