JERALD MONROE BRANTLEY was born on September 2, 1966 in Cincinnati Ohio to Delores Brantley and Deacon Shepard  Hilson Jr.  Jerald, who was a "bright" light to the world, departed this life on November 20, 2023 into the arms of The Lord.

He obtained his early education at Newport, Kentucky's Arnold Elementary School and graduated from Newport High School.  He  continued his education at Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green Kentucky, where he earned a bachelor's degree in communications.

Jerald, who accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age, became a member of The Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, where his family worshipped.  The Brantley family considered him their own "M.V.P," which was a title that he well deserved.

He lived a life of kindness and respect to others.  He also encouraged the young Brantley men to be men of integrity, to take care of their families and to always strive to make the ancestors proud. Jerald also loved to travel and loved spoiling his dog Missoni. His loving spirit will truly be missed by everyone he touched throughout his journey.

Jerald enjoyed a successful, wide-ranging career.  He served as a Credit Risk Manager for Citigroup of Florence Kentucky, where he later earned a promotion to compliance specialist.  He also worked as financial service specialist II for Brighton Center, Inc. of Newport Kentucky, providing  foreclosure prevention counseling and intervention to more than 135 Kentucky and Indiana families.  Jerald was also a board member and secretary-treasurer of his Darlington Farms Condo Association,  Burlington, Kentucky.

Prior to his passing, he was employed at REDI Cincinnati, where he worked as a Senior Executive Assistant for six years. He wore many hats at REDI, where he juggled a host of duties along with creating and organizing annual staff events.  Everyone loved whatever Jerald organized because he always made everything special.

His beloved ancestors who preceded him in death include his mother, Delores Brantley; his father, Deacon Shepard Hilson Jr.; maternal grandfather, Yaakov Nasi, paternal grandparents, James Monroe and Mary Brantley; his maternal grandmother, Dorothy Brown; sisters, Beverly Spears and Joyce Robinson; uncles, Kish Huffman and Rev. Dr. Authur L. Hilson; brother, Steven Hilson.

Jerald will be dearly missed by his brothers, Robert Brantley; beloved dog, Missoni Brantley, Greg (Charisse) Banks,  Shepard (Vernita) Hilson III,  Kevin Hilson, Brian (Gormah) Hilson, Scott (Teresa) Uzzle and Jermaine Boyd; sisters, Sharon Bates of Boston MA, Monica (Diop) Hilson, Kendall Hilson, Lydia McLean, Kelly Hilson (Todd) Hardin, and Ericka Hilson; aunts, Janis Brantley of Detriot Michigan, Teisha (Ousmane) Felder of Brooklyn NY, Moteq Huffman, Bethsheba (Cedric) Masse, Haiesha (Shawn) Hampton, Shona Huffman, Dinah Clark all of Chicago, Ill and Florine Hilson of Portsmouth, NH; uncles, Donald J (Loretta) Brantley Sr., Zokai (Keneisha) Harris, Barrak Huffman, Yaakov Huffman,all of Chicago, Ill,. Khi Nasi, Derrick Felder of Brooklyn NY.  He will also be dearly missed by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins other relatives and a community of special friends.