Brantley C. George

Born: August 12, 1886, Georgia.
Died: December 26, 1963.
Buried: George Cemetery, Early County, Georgia.

Brantley was a farmer and gospel song writer of the Primitive Baptist faith. His most well known is "Hide Me, Rock of Ages" (© 1946), recorded originally by The Stamps Quartet, then later by well known groups such as The Chuck Wagon Gang, The Statesmen, and the Gatlin Brothers. It has even been translated and sang in Navaho. The orginal composition was written on a brown paper bag with pencil. I have held it in my hands. Not being an educated man, he supposedly sold the rights to it for the measly sum of $25.

Though "Hide Me Rock Of Ages" is the most well known, he also wrote "I'm Going Home Some Morning", "Sailing on Life's Restless Ocean" and "Beyond The Blue."

His parents were Levi Brantley George and Susie Mann. Levi died when Brantley was just an infant. He was raised by his paternal grandparents, William Riley George and Louisa T. Holly George. Susie remarried to Samuel Houston and had 7 other children.

He was called "Big Daddy" by his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

My daddy told me his true cause of death was simply grief, having lost his wife and one of his sons in a short period of time.

He was the father of 6 children.

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