In Loving Memory of
J. Hunter Brantley
J. Hunter Brantley, Jr., 89, passed away February 22, 2012 after a brief illness.
Mr. Brantley retired from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in 1986 after 45 years of service. He began his service in the shipyard in 1941 as a shipfitter trainee and moved upward to become one of its senior managers, Administrative Assistant to the Production Officer where he served as principal advisor in areas of management, personnel, labor relations, finance and training for approximately 8,500 employees. His outstanding performance was recognized by the reception of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award and the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award. After retirement, he worked as an Executive Assistant to the City Manager of Portsmouth for several years including being military liaison to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the Naval Regional Medical Center, and to Coast Guard commands in Portsmouth. In 1994 the Coast Guard presented him its Public Service Commendation, the highest award the Coast Guard can bestow on a civilian.
Although he enjoyed an outstanding career in civil service, perhaps his greatest legacy is his service to the citizens of his beloved hometown, Portsmouth. Over the years he volunteered for numerous organizations in a wide variety of interests including President of the Portsmouth Rotary Club; President of the Portsmouth General Hospital Board of Directors; member of the Board of Visitors of Eastern Virginia Medical School; chairman of the Eastern Virginia Area Health Education Center Program Advisory Committee; member of the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine Foundation, and of the Virginia Emergency Services Advisory Board.
The first Norfolk Naval Shipyard employee to serve on the Board of Directors of the Portsmouth Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Hunter was presented the Chamber’s Distinguished Service in 1995 as its most outstanding volunteer. He was a past president of the Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club and the United Way of South Hampton Road Portsmouth Advisory Board. In appreciation of his impressive service to community leadership and volunteer roles, Hunter Brantley was named First Citizen of Portsmouth in 1997.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Lois Landrum Brantley; a daughter, Donna B. Saffold and her husband Gordon; two granddaughters, Heather S. Jenkins and her husband Mark, and Tiffany W. Saffold; and great granddaughter, Morgan W. Jenkins. He was predeceased by a daughter, Debbie.
Friends may join the family Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Baker-Foster Funeral Home, Bennett’s Creek Chapel, Suffolk. A funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at Centenary United Methodist Church , 3312 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth. Entombment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Armed Forces Scholarship, c/o Southeast Virginia Community Foundation, 5800 High St., West, Portsmouth, Va. 23703; or to a charity of choice.
