Billie Jean Brant

Billie Brant

CHARLESTON - On Sunday, September 4, 2022, Billie Jean Brant, of Charleston went to her heavenly home to be with the Lord.

The funeral service honoring her life will take place at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, September 10, 2022 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Charleston, Illinois with Pastor Ken Hoover officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date at Janesville Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be from 5-8 pm Friday at the church. The family requests everyone wear red, her all-time favorite color.  Arrangements: Caudill-King.

Billie was born on July 11, 1942 in Charleston, Illinois the daughter of Ivan Weaver and June (Level) Bowerman. She married the love of her life, Sgt. Toby L. Brant, U.S. Army Retired on October 30, 1980. He preceded her in death on October 16, 2004.  She was preceded in death by her mother June, father Ivan, and sister Judy.  She is survived by her daughters Wendy Taylor of Portland, Oregon, Lori Mane of Westmont, Illinois, Kelly Graham of Paris, Illinois, step-daughter Nikki Brant-Banfield of Perryville, MO, two sister-in laws, two nephews, one niece, cousins, four grandsons Tory Kerz, Cole Hutchings, Jesse Kerz, and Eli Wheeler, two granddaughters Meagan Longest and Victoria Bowen, many great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren. She also has special “bonus” grandchildren such as Mason Abernathy of Las Vegas.

Billie had loved bird watching, cooking, and shopping! Every spring, you could also count on Billie to be heading to the woods hunting for those morel mushrooms with her "other” daughter Lori Sawyer! She enjoyed spending time with longtime family friends one being Jay Swickard. Whenever she needed any kind of mechanical or maintenance assistance for her car, home, or even music, she could always count on her “son”, John Sawyer to come to her aide.

Billie was a lover of music especially old-time country, gospel, and barbershop.  For many years she played in country rock bands in the local area like Night Shift (the original band and as the family “called” the reorganized band, Nightshift 2), The New Harvest Band, Honkey-Tonk Attitude, and many others.  She also sang in several church choirs in the area.  Billie played keyboards and rhythm guitar. Each song she sang, she made it her own. She always said she did not sing like Patsy Cline; she sang like Billie Brant!

As she “retired” from playing in her own bands, you could find her almost every last Friday night of the month at the Charleston VFW Post 1592 listening and sometimes singing with her favorite band The Sawyer Brothers. Billie considered each member of this band and their families her family. She continued her music career going to many “gigs” in the area and joining the band to sing special songs. Recently, she also performed regularly with Champaign Country Opry where she found new “family” such as Chrissy Sparks, Dennis, Vicki, and Sam Ingram, along with so many more!

Billie was very proud to be a descendant (great great-granddaughter) of James and Polly Rennels, early Coles County settlers. The family's log cabin in Hutton Township was dismantled in the 1930's and reassembled in Morton Park where it remained for many years. The fireplace with the Rennels name engraved in it is all that remains of the cabin and is at the main pavilion in the park.

Billie was also a lover of animals, she had many pet dogs and cats over the years and they loved her just as much as she loved them, especially her granddaughter Victoria's current dogs Roma Toma and Pearl Onion.

Billie will be missed by her family and all who knew and loved her. Billie's family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials in her honor be made to the Lake Land College Foundation, (note for the Toby Brant Memorial Endowment) at Lake Land College in Mattoon, IL or Immanuel Lutheran Church in Charleston, IL.

Honorary Pall bearers:

• John Sawyer
• Matt Pryor
• Larry Young
• Dennis Ingram
• Jesse Kerz
• Mason Abernathy
• Erik Rose
• Jay Swickard

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