Lottie J. Branch

Born November 23, 1938, in Ardmore, Oklahoma, Lottie Jewel (McCarty) Branch was the eldest child born to the union of James Gibb and Hattie Freeman McCarty. Lottie and her siblings grew up in Grant, Oklahoma where she received her primary education and would go on to receive her secondary education at Booker T. Washington High School in Hugo, Oklahoma.

Lottie continued her education at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma where she received her Bachelor of Science degree. After marrying her college sweetheart John Branch, Lottie moved to the D.C., Maryland, Virginia (DMV) area where she began a life-long career with the federal government as a social worker for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). No children were born to Lottie and John’s union.

Despite growing up in the small town of Grant, Lottie grew to love all things “big city” and was a regular patron of the arts. Weekends would frequently find her taking in performances at the Kennedy Center and other local theatres in the D.C. area as well as taking weekend jaunts to New York City to attend Broadway productions with friends. With a twinkle in her eye, she would frequently say to others who came to town to visit, “So, how are you liking my city?” Lottie enjoyed sports as well – especially football – and would watch the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders when football season began.

After a lengthy career as a federal employee, and post-retirement, Lottie put her degree in education to use working as a substitute teacher in the Prince George County School District in Maryland. She would later move to Kansas City to be close to her nephew and his children – her great niece and nephew.

On August 26, 2024, Lottie left this earth to be with her Heavenly Father and gain “sweet rest.” She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Hattie McCarty, Gloria Jenkins, sister, Odessa McCarty, sister, and Kaiser McCarty, brother.

Lottie leaves to cherish her memory: Yuri D. Jenkins, nephew, McCarty A. Jenkins, great niece, Dietrich E. Jenkins, great nephew, and very special cousins Kermit Reynolds and Melba Nix.