Beauregard "Beau" Jackson Branyan's Obituary
Richard, Brooke and Cash would like to share Beau's obituary.
Beauregard “Beau” Jackson Branyan, 17, entered into eternal rest Feb. 22, 2021 after a five- month battle with cancer. Beau was kind, loving, funny, and smart. He was determined and demonstrated incredible strength in facing challenges throughout his life but in particular, fighting his aggressive cancer.
Beau attended Christian Brothers High School where he was a conscientious honors student. His desire to achieve was demonstrated by his earning a high score on the ACT despite having taken the test one day before his diagnosis, when his pain was reaching a peak. Beau was inquisitive and driven to learn the mechanics of things. He participated in the CBHS STEM program and was considering an Engineering major at college.
A naturally gifted musician, Beau played clarinet in the CBHS concert and pep bands. He received first chair placement in the 2020-2021 concert band. He placed in the All-West Tennessee band in 2019 and 2020, and earned superior medals in solo and ensemble. Beau had an amazing ear and could mimic any sound he heard. He hoped to attend the University of Memphis on scholarship for clarinet.
He felt a strong bond with nature and animals, appreciating their beauty and peace. Beau enjoyed walking his dog, as well as taking longer, solitary walks on the Wolf River Greenway. As part of his CBHS service hours, he volunteered at the Germantown Animal Shelter and Grace-St. Luke’s Church’s homeless outreach, More than a Meal. Beau was shy around most people, but he appreciated having the opportunity to engage in respectful conversation with those attending More than a Meal.
Caring and kind, Beau had a strong sense of empathy and justice and disliked any type of discord. He was foremost a peace-maker and peace-keeper. The world is a better place for his having been in it, albeit for much too short a time.
Beau is survived by his parents, Richard Henry Branyan and Elizabeth “Brooke” Browning McMullen, and his brother, Cassian “Cash” Browning Gentry Branyan; his grandparents, Elizabeth “Bette” Ferguson Arndt, Michael Oscar Arndt, and William “Bill” Lucas McMullen; his aunts and uncles, Susan Elizabeth Coker, Robert Lee Coker, William David Branyan, Page Moore McMullen, and David Raymond Sears; his cousins, Kagan Alexander Sears, Carys Isabella Sears, Robert Neil Coker, and Edward Stephen Chenette. Beau was loved by many more in his extended family, his friends, his CBHS bandmates, the Christian Brothers High School faculty, staff and student body.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents William Henry Branyan and Bessie Day Branyan, and his aunt, Barbara Anne Chenette.
Msgr. John McArthur, chaplain of Christian Brothers High School, will perform a graveside Rite of Committal Tuesday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. at Memorial Park. The service is open to all in the caring community of loving friends and family who have supported Beau, Richard, Brooke & Cash.
Please look for forthcoming information from Memorial Park on which arrows to follow to the gravesite.
In lieu of flowers and other gifts, please donate to Beau’s GoFundMe account. A portion of funds already collected and future donations will be used to establish a scholarship fund in Beau’s name at the Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis. Through the scholarship fund, the family hopes to create a legacy which both honors Beau's desire to attend the University of Memphis as well as his beneficent nature. While open to all students of music, the scholarship will give priority to Christian Brothers students in its disbursement criteria.
FOR THOSE ATTTENDING THE SERVICE PLEASE FOLLOW THE ORANGE ARROWS FROM THE POPLAR AVE ENTRANCE.
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