Rev. Perry Colin Bramlett, 68, of Fairhope, formerly of Louisville, Ky., passed away on Friday, Nov. 29, 2013.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Lee and Floalla Bramlett.
He is survived by his wife, Joan Fine Bramlett of Fairhope; brother, Kent Bramlett of Huntington, Texas; brother-in-law, Wythe Fine of Jasper, Ala.; nieces; nephews; and good friends, including the Rev. Ron and Pat Higdon of Louisville, Ky.
He served in the U.S. Army for more than four years.
Twenty-five years ago, Perry Bramlett founded “C. S. Lewis for the Local Church – Interstate Ministries,” a nationwide speaking ministry on the life, works and influence of Lewis.
He was the only person in the United States who taught and wrote about Lewis as a full-time vocation.
He was a graduate of Southern Seminary in Louisville, and a former pastor.
He gave almost 2,500 hours of talks and retreats to churches, colleges and groups in 25 states on Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, their friends and influences.
He also lectured on other great Christian storytellers, including Frederick Buechner, Dorothy L. Sayers and G. K. Chesterton.
He was quoted and interviewed by many publications, including The Christian Science Monitor, The Louisville Courier-Journal, The London Telegraph, The Oxford Times, Leadership Magazine and Michigan Nation Public Radio.
His published books include “C. S. Lewis: Life at the Center” (Smyth & Helwys, 1996); “Touring C. S. Lewis’ Ireland and England” (Smyth & Helwys, 1998); and “I Am in Fact a Hobbit: An Introduction to the Life and Work of J.R.R. Tolkien” (Mercer University Press, 2003).
He wrote articles, reviews and sermons for many magazines and journals, and contributed essays to “The C.S. Lewis Readers’ Encyclopedia” (Zondervan, 1998), “The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Ethics” (2006); and the four-volume “C.S. Lewis, Life, Works, and Legacy” (Praeger, 2007).
Perry spent the last three years researching and writing a biography of William Lindsay Gresham. It is expected to be published next year.
A memorial service will be held on Dec. 13, 2013, at 11 a.m., at Broadway Baptist Church, 4000 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, Ky.
A celebration of Perry’s life will be held at Page and Palette Bookstore in Fairhope on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013, at 6 p.m. It will be a time to honor Perry and his love of books and reading.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Fairhope.
