Clediece Webster Brannam
1906-2002
The Life Of C. W. Brannam
Clediece Webster Brannam was a respected gospel preacher, evangelist, and church builder whose ministry spanned over seven decades. Born on January 6, 1906, in Evening Shade, Sharp County, Arkansas, he was the son of George Washington Brannam (1874–1951) and Sarah Elizabeth Johnson Brannam (1879–1967). Raised in northeastern Arkansas, he obeyed the gospel in 1923 and was baptized by Dave Hicks.
Brannam pursued higher education at Arkansas State College and Freed-Hardeman College, preparing himself for a lifetime of preaching and congregational service. He married Lucille A. Blain on August 23, 1930, and together they raised two children, Gloria Deane and Dwain Webster.
He began preaching in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in 1934 and soon established himself as an effective evangelist and local minister. His first long-term work was with the church of Christ in Kennett, Missouri (1935–1940). From there he served congregations in Flint, Michigan (1941–1944), Columbus, Mississippi (1944–1948), Clarksville, Tennessee (1948–1955), Tupelo, Mississippi (1955–1956), Kennett again (1957–1958), Hopkinsville, Kentucky (1958–1964), and then returned to Kennett in 1964, where he continued his ministry for many years.
Throughout his career, Brannam was known not only for preaching but also for helping congregations grow and strengthen their physical and spiritual foundations. Under his leadership, significant church building projects were completed in several locations. The church in Columbus, Mississippi, completed a $50,000 building in 1946; the Madison Street congregation in Clarksville, Tennessee, completed a $100,000 facility in 1950; and a second congregation in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, completed a $175,000 building in 1959. His influence extended across the Midwest and South, particularly in southeast Missouri and northeast Arkansas.
As an evangelist, Brannam conducted meetings in numerous cities, including Jonesboro, Ark., Memphis, Tn., Kennett, Ark., St. Louis, Mo., and Little Rock, Ark. One of the most notable campaigns of his early ministry occurred in Cardwell, Missouri, in 1938, where 118 people responded to the invitation during a single meeting. Such results reflected his effectiveness as a preacher and his dedication to personal evangelism.
Brannam was recognized among the leading ministers of his generation and was profiled in multiple editions of Preachers of Today. During World War II he served the church of Christ in Flint, Michigan, and was active in cooperative efforts among churches, including supporting gospel singing schools and other educational endeavors.
After a preaching career that lasted seventy-five years, Clediece Webster Brannam passed away on August 24, 2002, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille in 1993. He was survived by his children, Gloria and Jim (James) Elliott of Memphis, Tennessee, along with three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Brannam’s legacy endures through the congregations he strengthened, the souls he influenced through preaching, and the generations of Christians who benefited from his dedication to the gospel. He was laid to rest in Dunklin Memorial Gardens in Kennett, Missouri, a community that had been central to much of his life’s work and ministry.
-Scott Harp, 06.15.2026
Reports On The Work
Gospel Advocate, August 23, 1934, p.817
Gospel Advocate, July 3, 1941, p. 645
Gospel Advocate, December 16, 1948, p. 1219
Gospel Advocate, April 28, 1958, p. 557
Gospel Advocate, August 13, 1964, p. 526
Celebrating 75 Years Of Preaching
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tennessee
Thursday, August 6, 1998, p. 54
The Jackson Sun, Jackson, Tennessee
February 6,
1991, p, 2
Stewart-Houston Times, Clarksville, Tennessee
Wednesday, April 14, 1982, p.2
The Leader-News, Greenville, Kentucky
October 4, 1978, p. 44
The Leader-News, Greenville, Kentucky
July 30, 1975, p. 26
Directions To Grave
C. W. and Lucille Brannam are buried in the SE Missouri town of Kennett. Located just south of town off Hwy. 412 on Southwest Drive, the GPS location below is the actual location of the grave in the cemetery.
GPS Location
36°13'13.5"N 90°04'17.6"W
D.d. 36.220421,-90.071548
BRANNAM
Clediece W. - 1900 - 2002
Lucille B. - 1909 - 1993
Photos Taken May 8, 2025
Webpage Produced June 15, 2025
Courtesy Of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com
Special Recognition: It was my pleasure to visit the grave of C. W. Brannam while in transit home from a Gospel Meeting I preached for the South Hwy. 5 church of Christ in Lebanon, Missouri. A great group of Christians, and much enjoyed time with them. The Brannams long influenced the region around SE Missouri and beyond. This page is dedicated to their memory.