Wesley Ellis Branch

Wesley Ellis Branch, 79, of Ocean Springs, MS, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 28, 2025. Born August 26, 1945, in Shelby, MS, he was the youngest child of Elizabeth and Rudolph Branch. Proud of his Mississippi Delta roots, Ellis graduated from Shelby High School in 1963 and earned his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Mississippi in 1967, where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

In 1975, Ellis moved to Ocean Springs, joining his cousin, Kathleen Schwartz, in the real estate business. He later founded Ellis Branch, Realtor, operating on Highway 90 until retiring in 2018. A dedicated member of the Biloxi/Ocean Springs Board of Realtors, he served as president and received its Realtor of the Year Award. Ellis’s passion for his community shone through his service. He was a Co-Chairperson of the Capital Campaign to benefit the establishment of the Ocean Springs (Mary Ruddiman) Unit of the Boys and Girls Club. He chaired the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce, was a Rotary Club member receiving recognition for several Paul Harris Fellowships, and served on boards for the Humane Society of South Mississippi, the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, the Biloxi Salvation Army, and the 1699 Historical Society. For years, he portrayed Father Anastase Douay in the society’s Landing Reenactment, and in 2015, he proudly played Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville for which his way presented with a Key to the City of Ocean Springs.

A lover of Mardi Gras, Ellis served on boards for the Krewe of Neptune and The Revelers, was a member of the Gulf Coast Carnival Association, and was crowned King of Les Masquees in 2010. He was, also, a member of The Boston Club in New Orleans. An active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church until his health declined, Ellis served on the vestry and was honored as king at the church’s first Renaissance Festival.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Reba Branch. He is survived by his daughters, Christiana Schmidt and Brennan Burkard (Bill); grandchildren Connor Christian Schmidt, Will Burkard, and Alexandra Burkard, all of Brandon, Mississippi; his brother, Dr. R.E. Branch of Dallas, Texas; nephews John Branch (Chrissie) of Austin, Texas, and Robert Branch of Minneapolis, Minnesota; the mother of his children, Brenda Branch of Brandon, Mississippi; and longtime special friend, Maria Mavar of Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Services will be held at Bradford O’Keefe in Ocean Springs with visitation from 5:00-7:00pm on Friday, August 1, and from 9:00-10:00am on Saturday, August 2 with the service following at 10:00 am. Interment will be at Southern Memorial Park.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the owners and staff of Angel Oaks Assisted Living for their compassionate care over the past two years.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be sent to the Humane Society of South Mississippi, St. John’s Episcopal Church, or a charity of your choice.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, August 1, 2025 and from 9:00 am until 10:00 am on Saturday, August 2, 2025 followed by a 10:00 am memorial service, all at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home on Porter Avenue in Ocean Springs. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Wesley Ellis Branch.