MRS. AVIS HURT BRANCH departed peacefully into eternal rest on Sunday, September 2, 2012, at Johnston Willis Hospital, Richmond, Virginia. Daughter of the late Willie Hurt, Sr. and Eva V. Hurt, she was born on September 20, 1942, in Nottoway County, Virginia. Mrs. Branch received the Lord Jesus Christ as her savior at an early age and was baptized and became a member of the Eleven Oaks Baptist Church where she served faithfully until her health began to fail. She served as a member of the Food Committee, Senior Choir, Pastor's Aide Committee, Beautification Committee, Assistant Clerk of the church, and a member of the Usher Board. Mrs. Branch received her early education at Nottoway County Public Schools, she graduated in the class of 1961 from Luther H. Foster High School, Nottoway, Virginia. She continued her education at the Southside Skill Center in Crewe, Virginia. She was united in Holy Matrimony with Roger E. Branch in 1962. They were blessed in this union with two children. Mrs. Branch made friends easily and showed her Christian faith daily by being helpful, generous, and supportive to anyone she encountered. She worked at Stackpole Component in Farmville, Virginia for many years and part of that time she held the position of a supervisor. She continued her employment with the Nottoway Correctional Center in Burkeville, Virginia. She had a long and successful career there and retired in 2009. She was a positive and happy person who shared her joy with everyone through her gifted skills of doing flower arrangements and as a Wedding Consultant. Her presence will be missed, but her spirit will be kept forever. Missed, loved through all eternity, and never forgotten, her spirit and memory will survive through her devoted and caring husband, Roger E. Branch of Crewe, Virginia; two sons, Lorenzo Branch (Renee) of Arvonia, Virginia and Larry Branch (Jacqueline) of Chesterfield, Virginia; four grandchildren, Antonio Evans, Dimitri Evans and Trey Branch of Chesterfield, Malana Manns of Richmond, Virginia; she also has three great-grandchildren, Brendan Chalkley, Amari Manns, and Savannah Manns all of Richmond, Virginia; two sisters, Mary Alice Eggleston (Harvey), Elizabeth Hurt and one brother, Willie Hurt, Jr. (Pearline) all of Crewe, Virginia; two aunts, Mrs. Easter Eppes of Kenbridge, Virginia and Mrs. Marie Eppes of Reedsville, North Carolina; four devoted friends, Mrs. Mary Liles, Charlotte Muse, Mrs. Lula Blackwell, and Mrs. Gertrude Allen, all of Crewe, Virginia and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors. The family will receive friends Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral Services Saturday, September 8, 2012, at 12:00 noon at Eleven Oaks Baptist Church, Crewe with interment in the Trinity Memorial Gardens, Rice.