PICAYUNE —
Coach “Twig” and Dana Branch are this week’s Picayune Item Super Seniors.
The couple have always lived by their motto of “it’s not the number of years in your life but the life in your years that matters.”
Today, the 81-years-young coach and his seventy something bride are still in love and wake up each day excited to spend the day together, no matter where that might take them. He brings her flowers every week. They love to travel and have been on trips to Europe, several cruises, ski trips and were stranded in Europe during the 9/11 attacks on the country.
“Twig” says, “We were having a meal when the waiter told us how sorry he was for the attacks on our country. We had no idea. We went up to the hotel room to watch CNN. It was devastating.
“We had told our children about our trip details and agenda, but they didn’t listen very well (we travel all of the time) and all they could remember was we were traveling and they couldn’t contact us. Needless to say there were some anxious days for them as they waited for us to be able to contact them. They take notes when we go on trips now.”
The couple have four children, 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren of whom they are both very proud.
Their son, Richard, is an intellectual properties attorney in Nashville, Tenn.; daughter, Kay, is a teacher in the Clinton, Miss. school system; son, Ted, is an Admiral in the U.S. Navy, living in Norfolk, Va. and son, Steven, is a pastor in Hornbeck, La.
Inducted into the MSU Sports Hall of Fame in 1981 and PRCC Sports Hall of Fame in 2008, Frank was given the nickname "Twig" at State and has gone by that name ever since.
“Twig” has had two very successful careers after his three years of service in the Navy. The first, as a teacher and football coach in the Picayune school system. The second, as an arts and crafts professional, working with his wife Dana who was a promoter for arts and crafts fairs in malls all over the country.
Of the first he says, “I had some wonderful experiences and loved working with the youth to help develop them as they began to mature.”
Of the second he says, “I learned the business and grew it. I did woodwork, plaster, tin, paint and cloth. I wrote over 130 poems and have sold them over the years in decorative books. We created jobs for people in the area through our art business and put several individuals into business for themselves in the mall shows.”
Dana Branch started promoting arts and crafts shows 34 years ago. She was the first female promoter in malls in the the south. The couple traveled 35 weeks a year doing mall shows then would spend two months in a local mall for Christmas.
The couple’s home is full of items collected from their travels and years spent in the arts and crafts business. Most of their furniture is handmade. Dana has a teddy-bear collection, bell collection and pottery collection. “Twig” has a wood carving collection, Native American Art collection and just about every other form of art imaginable.
Dana has retired from her promoting career but still holds a mall booth during Christmas selling her art, quail egg jewelry and books. She has taught art to special needs groups. Her art class for women led to groups sewing sessions, which led to the group making rag dolls for orphans in overseas mission efforts. She has worked collecting jackets for children in Israel and helped with neighborhood drives for Easter Seals. She loves to knit and teaches others to knit as well.
“I love worthy causes and helping animals in need,” she says with a big smile. She and her husband have a number of well cared for cats, two dogs, ducks and a raccoon that visits from time to time.
The couple are of deep faith and convictions. Dana Branch is an active participant in the ladies Bible study group through her church and says, “I believe in walking the walk and not just talking the talk. I want people to see the Lord in me.”
They say faith, love and putting life in their years is the secret to happiness no matter what your age may be.
[Editor’s note: Is there someone you would like for us to consider for our Super Senior feature? Send us an email or fax with details, including your contact information to: jmarze@picayuneitem.com or fax 601-798-8602.]
Features
Related Photos
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Shown above: Coach Frank “Twig” and Dana Rose Branch are shown among just a few of the assorted blooms that blanket their property. Item photo by Jodi Marze
Picayune Item’s super seniors
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