Albert Henry Brigance

Albert H. Brigance was born September 13, 1932 near Keota, Oklahoma. He is the second of six children born to Otto & Okla (Christenberry) Brigance. He graduated from Keota High School in 1951. His Bachelor Degree was complete as an honor student at Southeastern State University, Durant, Oklahoma in 1955 while serving in the Air Force. He served in the Air Force from 1953 through 1957 and attained the rank of Staff/Sergeant. His career specialties included flight simulator technician and education specialist. He did a tour of duty in Japan while serving in the Air Force. He and Pat Hicks met while attending Southeastern State University and were married at Durant, Oklahoma, March 31, 1956. After his discharge from the Air Force in 1957 he began his teaching career in Fresno County, California. Their two daughters Rebecca & Royce were born in Fresno while they were living there. He completed his Masters Degree at Fresno State University in 1960. In 1960 the family moved to La Puente, CA where Al continued his teaching career with the Hudson School District. He did post graduate study in school administration, special education and school psychology at the California State University - Los Angeles, University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Southern California. While living at La Puente he and Pat became guardian of Irene Dee & JoAnn Zook. In 1965 the family moved to Eureka, CA where Al served as school psychologist for 12 years with the Humboldt Co. Supt. of School's Office. His first book was published in 1976 and the second in 1978. Following the publication of his second book he took early retirement from the California School System to devote full time to writing and teacher training. In 1979 he chose to move to Maryville, TN in order to be in a central location and so that traveling nation wide to do teacher training and consulting would be easier. Mr. Brigance authored more than 40 books which have been used nation wide as well as some used internationally. He has been a major author with Curriculum Associations of North Billerica, MA since 1976 and recently Phoenix Learning Systems in Pennsylvania. Special Honors include naming to: The Wall of Fame at Keota High School, Keota, OK, Who's Who in American Education, 1994, Who's Who in America, 1995, Adjunct Professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. For his accomplishment in education, he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from South Eastern Oklahoma State University where there is a scholarship fund established in his name. After moving to Tennessee, the state in which his Brigance ancestors had settled in the 1780's -- 200 years prior, he began researching and compiling the Brigance Genealogy. In 1981 he began coordinating the nation wide Brigance Reunion. He published the Brigance Genealogy in 1982. It was revised and published in two volumes in 1995. He published the Christenberry Genealogy, his maternal ancestors, in 1984. He attended church regularly throughout his life. He was led to accept the Lord by the witness of a close friend James Williams who later became a Baptist Minister and has continued a close relationship with him throughout the years. He was baptized at the Hacienda Heights Baptist Church in California. He attended the First Covenant Church while living in Eureka and after moving to Maryville attended Maryville First Baptist Church and Fairview United Methodist Church. He hiked all 460 trails in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. He departed this life on the top of Mt. LeConte on September 11, 2007 at the age of 74 years. He is survived by: His wife of 51 years, Pat; Two daughters, Rebecca Brigance or Seymour, TN and Royce Jackson & husband Randy of Maryville, TN; Foster daughter, Irene Dee Damron & husband Don of Maryville, Grandson, Sgt. Matthew Haynes & wife Christa, Phillip Damron & wife Bea, Kenneth Damron & wife Michelle; Granddaughters, Jamie Garrett & husband Luther, Cindy Densmore & husband Shawn; Great-Grandchildren, Mattie & Katie Garrett, Benjamin & Abby Simons, and Montana & Lisa Damron; Sisters, Mrs. Frances Buchanan & husband Clarence of Quinlan, TX and Mrs. Patsy Adnerton of Planto, TX; Brothers, James Brigance of Las Vegas, Louis Brigance of Stigler, OK, Loyd Brigance of Greenville, TX; several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, September 16, 2007 at Fairview United Methodist Church with Dr. Jerry Russell officiating. Family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM, Saturday, September 15, 2007, Smith Trinity Chapel. A private entombment will be held at Grandview Mausoleum. Memorial donations may be made to: Blount County Library, 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville, TN 37804, Spark Plug Sunday School Scholarship Committee at Fairview United Methodist Church, 2508 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville, TN 37803, Mt. LeConte Lodge, 250 Apple Valley Road, Sevierville, TN 37862 or the South Eastern Oklahoma State University Foundation, PO Box 4187, Durant, OK 74701-0609. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Albert Henry Brigance please visit our Sympathy Store.