Margaret Easterling Braham, 79, of Westerville, Ohio, passed peacefully from this life on May 18, 2020, surrounded by her family following an extended illness.
A registered member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Margaret was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and grew up in Mobile, Alabama. After graduating from Theodore High School, Mobile, AL in 1958, she began her life’s adventure attending and graduating from the Mather School of Nursing, Southern Baptist Hospital, New Orleans, LA in 1961. Later in 1961, she married the love of her life, then Airman Second Class Gene Braham, USAF, in December of 1961. Although they left the Air Force at the end of obligation, service to others defined her life.
Love of music was always an important part of her life and another joy she not only shared with Gene but passed on to their children. The house was always filled with New Orleans Jazz, the hippest tunes from Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass, show tunes from South Pacific, Flower Drum Song or, her favorite, the Sound of Music, which included her nursing school class song, “Climb Every Mountain”. Even in her waning hours these songs would bring joy as she would hum or sing along when hearing the timeless melodies.
Whether singing in the church choir or singing at home music was always a source of comfort and joy for her. She would sing in the Christmas program at Mobile Presbyterian Church and was in the Choral Club in Nursing school. While attending the First Baptist Church in New Orleans, she was a member of the choir and was part of a performance of Handel’s “The Messiah” accompanied by 109 other voices and a 24-piece orchestra made December 11, 1960, which was recorded live and endures to this day.
She loved being a nurse and caring for others. She worked in many different areas including Surgery, Emergency and Shock/Trauma, Medical-Surgical. Margaret was also a trail blazer in the healthcare field of Case Management at the time of its greatest expansion into individual care reviews. Margaret fulfilled these roles in the many cities she lived all over the country (AL, WV, FL, TN, OH, & CA) while working at many different hospitals. Her dedication to service continued as she was a member and past president of Welcome Wagon in many cities where she lived ensuring that newcomers would feel as welcomed as she when transferring to a new city or town.
After she and her husband retired, they began fulfilling their dream of travel enjoying cruises all over the world. Even the more mundane parts of these trips were easy for Margaret because books were never far from reach. Some of the more memorable occasions were trips to the familial homeland of Scotland and Great Britain, crossing the Atlantic Ocean twice, traversing the Panama Canal on the inaugural sailing of the Norwegian Sky. Adventures on the ship Marco Polo in the Mediterranean Sea and a memorable Easter in Greece. Sailing around Cape Horn, cruising from Singapore to the Great Subcontinent of Australia and New Zealand.
Most important of all these adventures and accomplishments to Margaret was her family. Not only did she work full time supporting the household, but also raised two successful children, one a critical care nurse, educator and Navy Officer. The other a successful business IT Systems administrator & manager, responsible for the inner workings of businesses and industries we use every day. She supported her husband’s endeavors and successes as they travelled across the country.
Preceded in death by her father, Dale O. Easterling; mother, Beulah S. Easterling; brother, James A. Easterling and daughter Valerie.
Survived by loving husband Dallas (Gene) Braham, Sr; son Dallas Braham Jr of New Orleans, LA; Daughter, Beverly Braham-Durica (John Durica) of Chandler, AZ; six grandchildren: Alannah Durica, Zackery Durica, both of Chandler, AZ; Amanda Braham, William Braham, John Braham, all of New Orleans, LA; Grace Parsons (Josh), one great-grandchild Skylar Marie Parsons all of Southington, OH; Brother Dale A. Easterling (Lien) of Mobile, AL ; nieces: Dena, Joann, Jennifer, Margaret, Ramona, June, Adelheid, Leona, Julie; and nephews Donny and Leroy; a close loving extended family of cousins.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at Margaret’s childhood church, Hollinger’s Island Baptist Church, Hollinger’s Island, AL and interment will be at Mobile Memorial Gardens, Mobile, AL.
1940-2020
