JoAnn Louise Brantley Mullins, a resident of Fairhope, Alabama, departed her earthly life on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at peace and with family by her side on a beautiful spring morning at her favorite place in the world – her home of 64 years. Born in Clarks, Louisiana, on November 28, 1930, she is predeceased by her parents Arnim Lavelle Brantley, Sr., and Charlotte Dunn Brantley, along with her beloved brother Arnim Lavelle “Bubba” Brantley, Jr., and Henry Clifford Mullins, Jr., the father of her children. She is survived by her children April Mullins, Henry Clifford “Hank” Mullins, III (Claudia), Charlotte Anne “Missy” Mullins Dorgan, Mary Mullins Redditt (Mark). She leaves behind four grandchildren, Beth Mullins, Cliff Mullins (Kara), Oliver Dorgan (Sheila McElhany), Katie Dorgan (Mychal Cleveland), along with three great-grandchildren, her sister-in-law Lolo Brantley, and a host of extended family, friends and colleagues who universally adored her.
“Jody” was the epitome of beauty, grace, and kindness throughout her life. She lived in various Louisiana towns in her early years, was educated at Northwestern State College where she received her Bachelor of Science degree, and later moved to Alexandria, where she met and married young physician, Henry Clifford Mullins, Jr. They moved to Tehran, Iran for U.S. Army service from 1954-1956, during which time she enjoyed many exotic traveling adventures and had her first child. Upon returning stateside, they moved to Fairhope in 1956 and raised their four children. Home and family were always her greatest treasures, but she also developed many cherished, lifelong friendships and social activities in her new beloved town. The Dietze and Yancey families, who later came to Fairhope for medical practice, were constant companions. She became an avid tennis player and enjoyed doubles and singles matches at the Lakewood Club in Point Clear and traveled to tournaments and tennis camps with friends around the country, locally, helping establish the first tennis program at Fairhope High School and serving as the volunteer coach for girls. Her home became the central gathering place for her children’s friends because they knew their “second Mom” would always welcome them with open arms, even when they took over her den to cavort and watch “Saturday Night Wrestling” on TV. Like her mother before her, she regularly enjoyed bridge card games in her early Fairhope days with couples or other ladies and her greatest pleasures late in life were regular bridge play with her special friends Mary Ann Peters, Katchie Cane and Aimee Bryars and their summer vacation trips to North Carolina. A charter member of “Old Fairhope,” she served on the first Thomas Hospital Ladies Auxiliary as a “pink lady” volunteer, was a member of the Christmas Knights and Knighties, the Mari Masquers, joined the Wisteria Garden Club, and was an early family member of the Fairhope Yacht Club, taking up sailing on Mobile Bay with her family in their Rhodes 19, “Mama An’ ‘Em.” A love of the outdoors, nature, gardening, and flowers began in early childhood with her grandmother and became a lifelong passion which was instilled in her children and grandchildren, a cherished part of their heritage. After her marriage and raising her children, she reinvented herself by developing a career. A voracious reader, her first job was at Page & Palette bookstore in downtown Fairhope, where she enjoyed greeting customers and making
recommendations. Later, she turned her love of home decorating into a career, first at Fairhope Floor Covering and Interiors, and later opening her own design studio with partners Mary Ann Peters and Anne Blackwell Brooks. Design Partners served the coastal community with residential and commercial design and decorating expertise for 15 years. However, her greatest pride was always in being a good mother and home maker. Jody lived her Christian faith to its fullest throughout her life, giving love to all and judgment to none.
Deep gratitude is extended to those who cared for Jody and her family with great love, compassion, and commitment in her final years and days: Dr. Mike McBrearty, Cheryl Jackson, Angela Jones, Louise Hale, and the staff at Comfort Care Hospice, especially Allie Battle, April Daniel, Amy O’Gwynn, Kenya Williams, and Pastor Joel Williams.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Fairhope United Methodist Church on Thursday, March 16 at 3:00 pm, with time for visiting and reflection afterward in the adjacent Wesley Hall. A private interment with family will follow at a later date. Flowers are welcome. She would love that.
