Gone But Not Forgotten - In Loving Memory of Brandon Middleton

Brandon

Eternal Sunrise: March 30, 2010

Jay Brandon Douglas Collins, a.k.a. Brandon Middleton was born on August 24,1982 to Lisa Jane Middleton and Jay Collins. The proud grandparents are Bob and Sally Middleton. There is a host of proud great aunts/uncles, aunts/uncles, cousins, and pets.

We have wonderful, happy memories of Brandon, who brought our family much joy!  He was kind, loving, highly intelligent, and had a deep, deep love for creatures, great and small.  A loving and understanding young man, he was also deeply sensitive to others less talented and less fortunate than himself.   Brandon had no true siblings of his own but had adopted many little brothers along the way whose families, in turn, welcomed him with open arms.   Always the gentleman, he knew how to show respect to his elders. 

His hair shone like a new copper penny, his eyes were the color of calm green water, a compliment to his laughing gold freckles. A strapping 6’1” when full grown, he began to turn heads as a cherubic child, whose favorite clothing was “camo, camo, and more camouflage.”  He possessed a great sense of humor, a real comedian and was a natural athlete.  His grandfather, Coach Bob Middleton was his favorite coach when he played baseball and basketball. At one point, Brandon played a partial season as the youngest player on the Pompano Tropics. He called his mother “Mama Rama.”  She called her son “Bam Bam” (because he was just SO strong).

During his Duncan Middle School year, he was an honored member of Creatures and Critters, sponsored by his English teacher, Mrs. Wilson.  Academic excellence marked his school years.  He was in honors classes at Palm Beach Gardens High School, where he was also a member of the Navy ROTC before graduating in 2000.  He attended PBSC where he made the Dean’s List and was honored to receive many esteemed scholarships.   He dreamed of being a veterinarian, specializing in Herpetology (the study of reptiles).   A great joy for him during his college years was working at Safe Harbor as a surgical assistant in their low-cost spay and neuter program.  His entrepreneurial spirit led him into several of his own small businesses and he was a former member of Business Network International.

Brandon often worked as a volunteer for the Salvation Army, loading truck after truck with relief supplies in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, and at Christmastime, his time and talents were lent to their ‘Angel Tree’ program (which provided gifts for underprivileged children).  The Jupiter Boy Scouts enjoyed record turnouts of scouts whenever Brandon gave his regularly scheduled talks on herpetology and the environmental education on ‘keeping herps’.  His lifelong love for animals, a trait he learned from his mother, was only an extension of his love for people, so his kindnesses naturally extended to both man and beast, especially those snaky, scaly wonders!

He was preceded in death by his father and paternal grandparents. Brandon had received Jesus Christ as his Savior, was baptized with his mother in the Jupiter Inlet, and had recently rededicated his life to Jesus.  He was a young man with great ideas and high aspirations, always with great hope for his future. Our one truth, and Brandon’s, is ‘new life, true life’ from the risen LORD, Jesus Christ. The memorial service on April 5th, 2010, 5:30 PM at Trinity United Methodist Church, 9625 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, 33410 is to celebrate Brandon’s life AND the ‘new life, true life’ he continues to enjoy.  In lieu of flowers, and for those who desire, donations are being accepted for a memorial in his honor. His ‘Grandparents’, aunts, uncles, and cousins wish memorial contributions be sent to his Beloved Mother, Lisa Middleton, in care of Trinity United Methodist Church.

It is our hope that, as Brandon’s good friends, you will remain friends with us, his family. What is more important, is our prayer that you are in God’s Will, and that together, we inherit eternal life through HIS son, the LORD Jesus Christ.

“Let Christ Love You.”    <><    <><   <><

Submitted by LM Paolelli (Lisa Middleton's sister)