James “Jim” Lee Branum, a longtime music and community minister in the Birmingham area, died Jan. 27. He was 68.
He held a bachelor’s degree in music education from Samford University and a master of divinity and master of music degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was in his 50th year of serving Southern Baptist churches, spanning from Florida to Alabama to Texas to California. During his ministry, he pastored two churches and served other churches in the areas of music, youth, education, church planting and community ministries. He especially loved leading congregational worship and choirs for all ages, including handbell choirs.
Jim served for the past 12 years as minister of music at Mulga Baptist Church. He previously served for 12 years as minister of music and education at First Baptist Church Fultondale. He also served on the staff of what was then called the Birmingham Baptist Association (now the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association), working with the Center at Central Park and other ministries.
He was the founder and executive director of the nonprofit ministry called CareNet Connection, working with Christian Women’s Job Corps and other initiatives, and he started the ReMedy medical equipment loan ministry with the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association. For the past several years, he worked bivocationally, both as a minister and as a truck driver for Dunn Construction.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Nell Carter Branum, three children and nine grandchildren.
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