Brahm, Betty Gill

Betty Gill Brahm, 83, died peacefully after a lengthy illness on Oct. 27, 2015, at Grace Rehabilitation Center of Vero Beach, Fla., surrounded by family members. Betty was born in 1932 to Sam and Marie Gill of Pulaski, Va.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Brahm; her parents, Samuel and Marie Gill; sister Doris Moore; and brother Jack Gill.

She is survived by three sisters, Carolyn Ward of Sebastian, Fla., Judy (John) Dicken from Kansas and Joyce (Dennis) Ziesler from Colorado; six loving stepchildren, Jenny Wellschlager, Anne Levy, Peggy Mohoric, Mary Sufrin, Bob Brahm and Jim Brahm; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and 14 great-nieces and nephews.

Betty graduated in 1951 from Pulaski High School. Following graduation, she worked at Paul’s Knitting Mills. In 1963, Betty moved to Washington, D.C., and worked for the Democratic National Committee.

In 1972, Betty married Robert L. Brahm and moved to Severna Park, Md. She contributed her time and love being a stepmom to Bob and Jim Brahm; and enjoyed baking, gardening, golf and crabbing on the Severn River. Betty loved holidays, especially Christmas.

In 1987, Betty and Bob Brahm moved to Punta Gorda, Fla., where they spent 20 years enjoying the sun, golf and friends. Betty’s talent in needlework was evident when she won the Punta Gorda quilting contest. Betty was very outgoing, funny, feisty, caring and had an abundance of friends.

In 2007, Betty moved to Aiken, S.C., and lived at Woodside Plantation. Here, she nursed her sick husband, Bob Brahm, until his death in February 2008. After his death, Betty became active with Millbrook Baptist Church. She joined the Sunshine Ladies and visited the lonely, the shut-ins and the sick. Often, Betty chatted with the gate guards, the grocers and employees of Publix and the staff at Cracker Barrel. She reached out to everyone with a smile.

To Betty, family was everything. Her sisters tell the story that after the Depression, World War II offered special opportunities for men and women to join the factories. In 1944, Betty’s family left Virginia and moved to Dundalk, Md., so that both parents could work at Bethlehem Steel. Betty was asked to care for her three younger sisters, a daunting task for a 12-year-old. To help out the family, Betty took off a year of school.

Betty adored her husband, Bob Brahm, the love of her life. After his death, Betty continued to stay active, reaching out to new friends and always with cheer. She remained close to her sisters, Carolyn, Judy and Joyce, and to her stepchildren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Betty was full of hugs and laughter. She will be sorely missed.

A memorial service is planned for late January in Vero Beach, Fla. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312, www.diabetes.org/donate or to the Sunshine Ladies, Millbrook Baptist Church, South Aiken Blvd. SE , Aiken, SC 29803.