Jesse C. Branham, P.G.M.

A Biographical Sketch

Jesse Clyde Branham was born in Camden, South Carolina on February 22, 1917, the only son of Sylvia Alice Croft and Jesse Edward Branham. He was educated in the public schools of South Carolina and through Army Extension Courses. He is married to Catherine Ducker Sigwald. They have a son, two daughters, five grandchildren and two great grandsons. He resides at 13 Tynte Street, Charleston, South Carolina

Brother Branham is retired from Branham and Scott Floor Covering Company. He is listed in Who is Who in Freemasonry, the Dictionary of International Biography, and Personalities of the South.

He served his country with the US Army in the Pacific Theater for five years, being relieved from Active Duty in 1945. He served for 22 years in the United States army National Guard, retiring in 1976 with the rank of Master Sergeant (E-8). He received many decorations including a Presidential Unit Citation, the Bronze Star, the Honor Ring for being the Outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer in the Washington Light Infantry in 1951, and the Honor Ring for being the Outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer in the Sumter Guards in 1975. Additionally, he is past President of the Non-Commissioned Officers Club and the Chevron Club.

A member of St. Peters Episcopal Church, he currently serves as a Lay Eucharistic Minister and has served on the Vestry for more than 20 years.

He served on the Advisory Board for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls for 10 years, 5 years as Chairman and in 1964 he was invested with the Grand Cross of Color, which is the Order's Highest Award.

He is a Colonel in the Rhode Island State Militia and a Colonel in the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.

In 1969, Brother Branham was elected Knight Commander of the Court of Honour, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, and elected a 33* [degree] Honorary, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in 1975.

He was awarded:

• Honorary Legion of Honor - Order of Demolay in 1982.
• Albert Gallatine Mackey Medal in 1984.
• York Rite College Order of the Purple Cross in 1985.

He is a member of:

• The Washington Light Infantry
• The Sumter Guards
• Charleston Chapter, No. 28 - National Sojourners
• Charleston Charter, No. 28 Heroes of 76
• Square and Compass Club, Charleston Air Force Base
• Masters and Wardens Club, First and Second Masonic Districts
• Omar Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Noble of the Mystic Shrine
• Ritualistic Divan Past Masters Unit
• Carolina Chapter, No. 1, Royal Arch Masons

• Enoch Council, No. 1, Royal and Select Masters
• South Carolina Commandery, No. 1, Knight Templar
• Aiken Council, No. 23, Super Excellent Masters
• Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Buist Chapter Rose Croix
• Buist Chapter Rose Croix Delta Lodge of Perfection
• Bethlehem Council
• Dalcho Consistory

• South Carolina Council, No. 20, Knight Masons of the United States of America
• Palmetto Priory, No. 94, Knights of the York Grand Cross of Honour
• Palmetto York Rite College, No. 70
• Charles Towne York Rite College, No. 113
• Charles Towne Charter, No. 195, Allied Masonic Degrees
• The Royal Order of Scotland
• National Federated Craft, No. 136
• The Saint Johns Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine
• Thrice Illustrious Masters Council
• Grand Convention, Anointed High Priests of South Carolina
• Knight Crusader of the Cross
• South Carolina College, Societas Rosicrucian in Civitaibus Foederatis (S.R.I.C.F.)
• Lawrence Howell Court 7, Order of Amaranth
• Charter Member of the South Carolina Masonic Research Society
• Scottish Rite Research Society

He is an honorary member of the following bodies:

• The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Alabama
• Grand York Rite Bodies of Alabama
• Grand Commandery of Knight Templar of Georgia
• Grand Commandery of Knight Templar of Mississippi

He is an honorary member of the following Lodges in South Carolina [Ancient Free Masons]

• Washington Lodge, No. 5
• La Candeur Lodge, No. 36
• Kingstree Lodge, No. 46
• Landmark Lodge, No. 76
• Etiwan Lodge, No. 95
• Franklin Lodge, No. 96
• Port Royal Lodge, No. 242
• Chicora Lodge, No. 366
• Dorchester Lodge, No. 369
• James Island Lodge, No. 369
• Olde Charles Towne Lodge, No. 405
• Old Fort Lodge, No. 420
• Fort Moultrie Lodge, No. 428

Honorary Membership in the following South Carolina Bodies: York Rite Bodies:

• Anderson
• Chester
• Clemson
• Columbia
• Easley
• Gaffney
• Hampton
• Orangeburg
• Spartanburg
• Knight Templar, Commandery No. 4, Greenville
• Royal Arch Masons, Pickens Chapter, No. 47
• Masters and Wardens Club
• Twenty-second Masonic District
• Thirtieth Masonic District

El-Hasa Temple Scimitar Temple: Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine

Scimitar Temple: Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine

M.W. Bro. Branham was raised to the sublime dgree of a Master Mason on March 4, 1950 in Strict Observance Lodge #73 A.F.M. where he still maintains a dual membership and is an affiliated Past Master.

He served the M.W. Grand Lodge of South Carolina:

• Junior Grand Deacon [1967]
• Senior Grand Deacon [1968]
• District Deputy Grand Master of Second Masonic District [1969-1970]
• Junior Grand Warden [1979-1980]
• Senior Grand Warden [1981-1982]
• Deputy Grand Master [1983-1984]
• Grand Master [1985-1986]

He is:

• Charter member, life member, and Past Master of Fellowship Lodge #400 A.F.M. [1964]
• Charter member and Past Patron of Jessie Belle Shonk Chapter No. 269, Order of Eastern Star [1965]
• Associate Regent, York Rite Sovereign College of North America [1986]
• Past Grand Master of Masons in South Carolina A.F.M. [1985-1986]
• Past Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of South Carolina [1995]
• Past Celebrant: Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis (S.R.I.C.F.) [1994]
• Past Excellent Chief: South Carolina Council #20 Knight Masons of the USA. [1994]
• Past Preeminent Governor: Charles Towne York Rite College #113 [1988]
• Past Sovereign Master: Charles Towne Chapter # 105, Allied Masonic Degrees [1987]
• Past Eminent Commander: S.C. Commandery #1, Kinght Templar
• Past High Priest: Carolina Chpater #1, Royal Arch Masons [1986]
• Past Illustrious Master: Enoch Council #1, Royal and Select Masters [1987]
• Past Venerable Master of Delta Lodge of Perfection, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite [1981]
• Past Wise Master of Buist Chapter Rose Croix, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite [1983]
• Past Venerable Master of Kadosh of Dalcho Consistory, Ancient and Acceptecd Scottish Rite [1988]
• Past Right Excellent District Deputy Grand High Priest, First District: Most Excellent Grand Royal Arch Chapter of S.C. [1988]
• Past Illustrious District Deputy Grand Master, First District, Most Illustrious Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of S.C. [1989]
• Past Eminent Grand Representative, First District, Grand Commandery of Knights Templar [1990]
• Past Puissant Sovereign of The Saints John Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine [1997]
• Appointed Personal Representative of the S.G.I.G. to Charleston Scottish Rite Bodies by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General of South Carolina [July, 1993]

He is currently serving as:

• Treasurer of Fellowship Lodge #400 A.F.M.
• Treasurer of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Bodies in Charleston, S.C.
• Prelate of the Knights of the York Cross of Honour
• Sentinel of Knight Crusader of the Cross
• Grand Representative of the Grand Council of Minnissota near the Grand Lodge of S.C.
• Grand Representative of the Grand Council of the District of Columbia near the Grand Council of S.C.
• Member of the Grand Lodge Committee on Jurisprudence, Works and Ceremonies