MOUNT AIRY — Elder Willie Branch, 82, of Mount Airy, passed away on Sunday morning, Oct. 18, 2009, at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. He was born in Surry County on March 30, 1927, to the late Jesse and Nora Hodges Branch. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepmother, Ola Mae Callahan Brindle; his first wife, Myrtle A. Branch; daughter, Peggy Branch Keiler; sister, Beulah Branch Calhoun Marion; and eight brothers, Johnny Lee, Bobby Jesse, Calvin, , Norman, Franklin, Wesley, Arnold and Herman Branch. Elder Branch was a member of Little Vine Primitive Baptist Church and was the pastor of the church. He also served as the pastor of Union Primitive Baptist Church and Zion Hill Primitive Baptist Church. He served as the moderator of the Fisher River Association for 30 years. He was a retired farmer. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. JoAnn Dancy Branch of the home; daughters and sons-in-law, Nora and Roger O’Neal of Elkin, Elaine Bowman of Claudville, Va., Sue and Jim Douglas of Statesville, Debbie Branch of Elkin and Vera and Raymond Dancy of Graham; sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Kathy Branch of Ararat, Va., Joe Branch of Elkin and Elder Avery and Kathy Branch of Elkin; stepdaughters and stepsons-in-law, Anita and Mark Wagner of Wytheville, Va., and Lisa and John Brooks of Bristol, Va.; stepson and stepdaughter-in-law, Daniel and Sabrina Sturgill of Rural Retreat, Va.; 15 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Lucy Branch of Elkin and Faye and Royce Webster and Stella and Allen Seagroves, all of Apex. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 20, 2009, at Little Vine Primitive Baptist Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Elder Larry Blevins, Elder Eddie Lyle, Elder Victor Church and Elder Joey Jenkins will officiate the services. His body will be carried to Little Vine Primitive Baptist Church on Monday evening, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. After the visitation, his body will be taken back to Moody-Davis Funeral Home until carried to the church on Tuesday to lie in state one hour before the service. Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to the Little Vine Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Johnny Ray Childress, 9122 N.C. 268, Elkin, NC 28621. The family would like to give a special thanks to the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home and staff, for the love and care given. Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.