McMinnville resident and Warren County native Velma Wood “Doodie” Bratcher, 94, was born March 7, 1919 and died Jan. 26 at River Park Hospital following a one-month illness.A retired librarian with the Warren County School System and a member of First Baptist Church, she was the daughter of the late Hiram O. and Mary Matilda Casey Wood. She was married to Oliver Lane Bratcher, who preceded her in death March 7, 1998. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Nella Mae Roberts and Georgia Lee Koerts; two brothers, Auburn and Walter A. “Babe” Wood; and son-in-law, James Kenneth Cantrell.She is survived by daughter, Laine Cantrell of Murfreesboro; son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Peggy Bratcher of McMinnville; five grandchildren and spouses, Dr. Samantha Elaine Cantrell of Murfreesboro, Rachel Amanda and Thomas Roche of Nashville, Dr. Lara and Kevin Harvey of Boston, Mass., and Robert Oliver Bratcher and John Marshall Bratcher, both of McMinnville; and four great-grandchildren, Ella Laine Roche, John Aslan Roche, Henry Knox Harvey and Lane Creed Harvey.Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in High’s Chapel with Rev. James Johnson officiating.
Velma Wood Doodie Bratcher, 94