Elijah Bragg

SFC (Ret) Elijah Bragg, Junction City, departed this life October 7, 2012 at the age of 90. His greatest desire was to see Jesus, face to face. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, October 12, 2012, at the Second Missionary Church. Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. Thursday, at the Penwell-Gabel Mass-Hinitt Funeral Chapel, 805 Caroline Avenue. Memorial contributions have been designated to the Second Missionary Baptist Church, 701 W. 10th Street, Junction City, KS 66441 and to the National Kidney Foundation of Kansas, 6405 Metcalf Ave., Ste. 204, Overland Park, KS 66202.

Elijah entered this world August 31, 1922 in Palatka, Florida to General Saxton and Ella Gertrude (Strickland) Bragg. Elijah attended school in the Palatka public school system and completed his GED in the Army. He furthered his education with coursework at Kansas State University.

Mr. Bragg married Kathryn. Together they adopted Kimberly Patrice. Kathryn passed away in 1978.

He was later united in matrimony to Dorothy J. Nichols in December 1980. To this union was born one son, David Bragg. He also gained four other children: Tina Marie, Kirt D., Terry Lynn and Raymond Jr.

Elijah accepted Christ as his personal Savior at an early age and was baptized in the St. John's River. Many years later he united with the Second Missionary Baptist Church where he remained an active member until his passing. He served as Assistant Financial Secretary, a member on the Trustee Board, a Deacon, a Layman, a Sunday school student, Asst. Secretary for Boy Scouts of America Troop #246 and was a member of the Study Group mission circle. He was active in the Smoky Hill District Association where he most recently served as treasurer. He loved children and demonstrated that in several ways: he read to the children for Christmas, he was an active supporter of the Sunbeams on the local, district and state level.

Elijah served in the United States Army in several positions in the field of communications. He served from 1942 through 1963. He retired at Ft. Riley, KS after more than 20 years of honorable service. While serving he earned the following awards: National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal w/Three Loops, Three Letters of Commendation, Two Letters of Appreciation, Marksmanship Badge Rifle M1, Marksmanship Badge Rifle M1 Carbine, APTO Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He then was employed with Federal Civil Service at Ft. Riley until his retirement in 1988.

He was a 32nd Degree Mason in Acacia Lodge #91 where he served as Treasurer for many years. He also served as the Treasurer of the Royal Arch Masons; Past worthy Patron for St. Tabitha #75; Past Potentate of the Oasis Temple #29. He was a member of the NAACP and served on Kansas Children's Service League Board.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy and son David of the home; Children; Tina M. Nichols-Waller (Sherman), Kirt D. Nichols (Janie), Terry N. Rivers (Sheldon) of Junction City, Raymond A. Nichols (Yolanda) of Gilbert, AZ; son/nephews Horace Jefferson and Elijah Lowery, Palatka, FL. Grandchildren: Anthony S. Nichols, Martye M. Madkins, III, Elijah A. Madkins, Mishala L. Nichols, Rosalind R. Nichols-Saddler (Larry), Brandi M. Nichols, Kirt D. Nichols Jr. (Nikki), Anabel Vargas-Jordan (Frank), Melissa Vargas, Jesus Vargas, Louis Vargas-Gutierrez, David Bragg Jr. Great-grandchildren; Dariyuana Nichols, Anthony S. Nichols Jr, Amari S. Nichols, Zuri Spressar, Ziona Pearl Nichols, Zalaia Nichols, Julissa Grace Jordan; Sister: Ella Lesene, Palatka, FL; Mother-in-law Pearlie M. Gathon, Saginaw, MI, In-Laws: Helene Reese, Duncanville, TX, Deborah Adams, Saginaw, MI, Essie Young, Topeka, KS, Dan Marks, Dumas, AR and his special brother and sister, Jessie and Opal Watkins. Adopted children: Robert and Dorothy Warren, Rev. Victor Ware, Rev. Alfonso B. Miles, Rev. Armogen and Carmen Walker, Jacqueline Norman, Sue Cunningham, Ellen Mathews, Terence and Tessa Golden, God-children: Bobby G. Whitten, Seigh Norman, Dushon Whisenhunt, Tajaun Turner: Adopted Grandchildren: Robert White, Daquarian King, Justyce Young, Nyte Miller and Zoriah Oden and Kayla Carter and a whole host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Elijah was preceded in death by his parents, a wife, Kathryn Bragg, his daughter, Kimberly P. Bragg-Madkins; Brother, Obadiah; Sisters, Rosa and Elizabeth.