Julian "Jerry" Gerrard Braddock

Julian "Jerry" Gerrard Braddock, 86, of Charleston, South Carolina, husband of Valerie Humbert Braddock entered into eternal rest Thursday, May 4, 2017. His Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, May 9, 2017 in J. HENRY STUHR INC., WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL, 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Live Oak Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Monday in Stuhr's West Ashley Chapel from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Jerry was born August 3, 1930 in Jacksonville, Florida, son of the late Arnold Lee Braddock, Sr., and Blanche Sessions Braddock. He came to Charleston from an orphanage in Florida in 1941. Jerry graduated from Charleston High School where he played football for the Bantams and was selected to play in the Jaycee All-Star-Star football game three years in a row. He was named the most outstanding player in the 1947 All-Star game, and also in the All-State football team in 1948. Jerry also played for the Charleston Royals semi-pro football team. He attended North Greenville Junior College on a football scholarship. Jerry was the Chief Lifeguard at Folly Beach in 1950 and he saved two lives. Jerry was a Data Processing Tech Support Supervisor for 35 years with Westvaco until his retirement in 1984. He was a member of North Bridge Baptist Church.

Jerry wrote a 300 page book, Wooden Ships-Iron Men, about four of his ancestors who were mariners of note. He and Valerie founded VJB Press to publish the book and two books of poetry he wrote. Jerry also wrote 33 published historical articles and participated with renowned writer Arthur Hailey in two lectures in the Bahamas on the life of one of the ancestors, Captain William Lyford, for whom exclusive residential resort Lyford Cay in the Bahamas is named after.

He is survived by his wife, Valerie Braddock of Charleston, SC; his children, Debbie Hinson, Derry Braddock and wife Chris, Glenn Braddock and wife Lucy, Robert Braddock and wife Eleu, Susie Fortin and husband Tom, step-son, Douglas Small and wife Cathy, step-daughter, Charlene Moore and husband Rick, eight grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, step-father Richard Pettry, brother, Arnold Lee Braddock, Jr., sister, Alice June Braddock, and his first wife Marguerite Mauney Braddock.

Flowers will be accepted or donations can be made to Northbridge Baptist Church, 1160 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407.