After toiling in this earthly vineyard, Brandon Lynn Florence Spence accepted God's invitation to come home for a much needed rest. He told her to let not her heart be troubled, for he had prepared a home for her. When she could no longer fight the afflictions and pain that haunted her body, Bran, as she was affectionately called, answered her final call on Sunday, December 31, 2017, at 3:00 PM, and she entered into eternal rest.

Born November 15, 1972 in Albany, Georgia, Bran was the daughter of Lora Florence and Leon Haywood, Sr.  A loving wife, mother, child, sister, aunt, cousin, in-law, and loyal friend, Bran's heart was filled with love and compassion.  She was very perceptive, good natured, and generous and was a joy to be around.  To know her was to love and respect her.  The strong bonds of friendship that she developed through the years will forever be cherished and remembered.

As a youth, Bran knew there was a God.  She confessed her belief in Christ and united with the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.  She later joined St. James Missionary Baptist Church.

Bran graduated from Mitchell-Baker High School in Camilla, Georgia.  She continued her education at Albany State University in Albany, Georgia, receiving both a Bachelor and Master Degree.  She was employed with the Mitchell County Board of Education as a second grade teacher.  She had a wonderful, compassionate way with students and a rare sense of humor that drew them to her.  She also had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and was well regarded among her peers in the teaching profession for her leadership skills.

Bran leaves in celebration of her life a husband, James Spence of Albany, Georgia; mother, Lora Florence (Marvin Hicks) of Camilla, Georgia; father, Leon Haywood, Sr. (Gloria) of Albany, Georgia; children, Akerian Florence, Kamryn Spence of Albany, Georgia; godson, Jacob Jackson of Camilla, Georgia; brothers, Baron Ross of Atlanta, Georgia, Andre Stewart of Camilla, Georgia, Leon (Candice) Haywood, Jr. of Albany, Georgia, Dontavius Haywood of Albany, Georgia; sister, Khonda Stewart of Albany, Georgia; father-in-law, Ernest Spence of Camilla, Georgia; brother-in-law, Orenthal (Pascha) Spence of Camilla, Georgia; sisters-in-law, Wanda (Kent) Clark of Albany, Georgia, Margarie Lawson of Douglasville, Georgia, Natassia (Anderson) Carswell of Fayetteville, Georgia, Tangela (Daniel) Maxwell of Douglasville, Georgia; aunts, Annette Graddick, Virginia (Vernon) Haywood-Jackson, Deidrea Edmonds of Camilla, Georgia, Chattie Wheeler of Gainesville, Florida, Linda Hayward of Albany, Georgia; uncles, Eugene Hayward, Jr. of Camilla, Georgia, Clarence (Tracey) Hayward, Sr. of Leesburg, Georgia, Dave Haywood of Atlanta, Georgia, Sam (Wanda) Haywood, Sr. of Gainesville, Florida; special cousins, Raymond (Hooper) Scott of Augusta, Georgia, Darren (Marquita) Graddick of Pelham, Georgia; the Gyrlz, Personnia King, Sonya Jones, Cullena Morman-Mayes, Kaye Moore, Melva Quimby-Jones; special friends, Jamel Virges, Sherion Harris Veronica Reddick, Tamara Jackson; devoted friends, Cullena Morman-Mayes, Sonya Jones, Melva Quimby-Jones; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.