Joseph Leroy Brantley was born May 26, 1955 in Oakland, California to the proud parents of Benjamin C. Brantley Sr. and Helen Marie Brantley.  Joseph was the eldest of two sons.  

Joseph graduated from Fremont Senior High in Oakland.  After graduating, he began working at the Oakland Army Base.  Joseph loved it so much that he enlisted into the Army where he served proudly until receiving an honorable discharged in 1974. 

After relocating to Modesto, CA in 1995. Joseph furthered his education and obtained an Accountant Diploma from Stratford Career Institute. Joseph worked for thirteen years until his retirement at United Cerebral Palsy.

After attending multiple churches in Modesto, Joseph joined Gateway City Church (formerly known as Destiny) under the leadership of Pastors Hank and Linda Bertolero in 2008. Joseph loved God and cherished his spiritual growth in the Word.

Joseph leaves to cherish his memory: mother, Helen Marie Brantley of Modesto, CA; sister, Margaret Wysinger of Modesto CA; cousins he considered as brothers, Donnie, Leonard (aka Scooter) and Leon Wysinger of Oakland, CA; aunts: Cecilia Walker of Modesto, CA, and Dorothy Adams of Manteca, CA; uncle Michael Hill, Sr of Oakland, CA; nephews: Michael Jr and Marquis Hill; niece, Tiffany Hill; cousins: Jajuan Wysinger and Bree Stark of Modesto, CA, Vera (Alanna),  Sylvia Ray, Dwight and Victor Simmons of Oakland, CA; Gateway City Church Family; and a host of relatives and friends.

Those that preceded Joseph in death loved him dearly including his brother, Benjamin Brantley; great-grandmother, Lucy Wilkins; grandmother, Alice Catherine Hill; aunts: Mary Smith (required Joseph to bake a sweet potato pie every time she visited) and Diane Williams; as well as other aunts, many uncles and cousins.

Special Acknowledgement: Patricia Leonard, Alfred “Sonny” Thomas, Shirley “Niecy” Smith, Joyce Adams Thomas, Gail Williamson, Theodore and Melvin Adams, Steve Wright and Little Marley, Evon Campbell, Monique Nathaniel and Linda Donnelly for their unconditional friendship