William O. (Bud) Brazil died peacefully at home in Blairsville on Sunday, June 14, 2020, surrounded by his family. Bud was born Nov. 4, 1934, in Hot Springs, Ark., the son of Leonard and Gertrude Brazil. He attended Henderson State College, in Arkadelphia, Ark., and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he earned a BSBA degree in Business Administration and later an MA degree in history. He completed his advanced studies at Stanford University; Freedom Foundation, Valley Forge; Pennsylvania, and Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.
Bud served as a U.S. Army Master Sergeant in the Korean Conflict. Then in 1963, Mr. Brazil joined the faculty of Young Harris College, Young Harris, Ga., as a professor of history and economics. He later served as Financial Aid Officer and then Dean of Student Affairs. In 1969, he was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, where he taught U.S. history. Returning to the U.S., he taught history at North Florida College, in Madison, Fla., and later served as headmaster of Madison Academy. During that time, he also served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Council of Independent Schools.
In 2000, he returned to North Florida College as Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. He served the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools on various accrediting committees. In addition, he served as co-coordinator for the Experiment in International Living, Putney, Vermont, for three years in their international exchange program.
He is a member of Who’s Who Among College Deans and Presidents and Who’s Who in Arkansas. He is a member of the Phi Alpha Theta National Honorary History Fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and Gate of the Temple Masonic Lodge.
Bud was a two-term chapter president of the Blue Ridge Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, and served as a State Regional Vice President SAR and a member of the Georgia State SAR Color Guard. He also served two terms as Commander of the David Payne Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans. Bud attends St. Claire’s Episcopal Church, Blairsville, Georgia, where he served on the Vestry and was the first director of the Adult Christian Education Program.
Bud is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carolyn; a son, William Walker Brazil and his wife, Margaret Emery Brazil; a daughter, Caroline Wellborn Brazil Workman and her husband, Richard Harrison Workman; and three grandchildren: Rebecca Tayloe Brazil Riley and her husband, Kyle James Riley; Benton Cole Workman and Jordan McClanahan Workman. He also leaves a sister, Marth Brazil Trice and her husband, William Mathew Trice; a brother and sister-in-law, James McClanahan Wellborn and Susan Boyd Wellborn, as well as nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Bud’s life will be held for the family at St. Claire’s Episcopal Church, in Blairsville, Ga., on Saturday, June 20, 2020. His ashes will be interred in St. Claire’s Memorial Garden.