Minnette Stevens Bracey

Minnette Stevens Bracey of Brandon went to be with the Lord on June 27, 2024. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family. Minnette was born in Vaughan, Mississippi, and she was a graduate of Myrick High School in Jones County. She graduated with honors from the South Mississippi Charity Hospital School of Nursing. She picked up the nickname “Penny” during nursing school. She was one of the “Charity Girls” of South Mississippi. Minnette was the first awardee of the “John Pleasant Fatheree Award” for exemplary work as the outstanding graduate of the year. She later completed the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program at UMMC and became a certified Nurse Practitioner in 1976. Minnette spent a great deal of her career caring for children with sickle cell disease.

Minnette would give the shirt off her back to help others, but she especially loved children. She treated her patients, her nieces and nephews, and her foster children as if they were her own. “Aunt Net” was a quiet woman with a strong faith and a determined spirit. She loved and supported her family, her church, and her community. Her favorite acts of service were cooking and baking for her family and friends. She also loved volunteering with the nursing home ministry and preparing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes for Brandon Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her former spouse, Edwin Bracey, her father William Thomas Stevens, her mother Clara Heathcock Stevens, and four sisters, Jerlean Stevens, Jeanette Pilgrim, Dorothy Thomas, and Vera Thomas.

She is survived by her daughter, Emily Bracey Lewis (Paul), and her sister, Mary Alice Shoemake, her nephew Anthony Shoemake (Cathy) and their children Ryan and Madison Shoemake along with dozens of nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the many health care professionals that cared for her over the years (especially Dr. Mike, Val, Holly, and Jaz); Carol; and her “Sister from Jones County.”

Visitation will be on Sunday, June 30, 2024 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon.

A graveside service and burial will take place at Memorial Gardens in Laurel on Monday, July 1 at 2:00 p.m. Minnette will be deeply missed. Her memory will live on through all those who knew her and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation to the following:

Operation Christmas Child (Samaritan’s Purse)

Brandon Baptist Church