Brannam receives 2026 Missouri Senior Service Award

Licking business owner and volunteer Joan Brannam was honored Monday as a recipient of a 2026 Missouri Senior Service Award at a formal ceremony hosted by Lieutenant Governor David Wasinger. Brannam and her husband, Jim, live in Success, Mo.

The Missouri Senior Service Awards honor Missouri residents 60 years of age and older who have made a meaningful and lasting impact through volunteer service in their communities. The award highlights the contributions of older Missourians, recognizing their service and celebrating it statewide. The service provided by these senior citizens strengthens civic life and passes down values of responsibility and community pride to the next generation.

“Missouri’s seniors built their communities and then kept showing up,” said Lieutenant Governor Wasinger. “These awards are about honoring that lifelong commitment. We owe them our thanks, our respect, and our recognition.”

Ten Missouri seniors received the award this year. In addition to Brannam, other recipients included Marcia Finch, of Sullivan; Michael McCluskey, of Manchester; Bobbi Jo Reed, of Kansas City; Judy Borman, of Kingdom City; Reid Forrester, of Poplar Bluff; Karen Shipp, of Odessa; Nolan Moody, of Springfield; Mary Williams, of O’Fallon; and Phyllis Stirewalt, of Aurora.

Brannam was recognized for her volunteer efforts involving Licking Downtown Inc., Licking VFW Auxiliary Post #6337, and the Licking Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to operating two businesses in downtown Licking, Brannam is the Secretary-Treasurer of Licking Downtown, is the Senior Vice President and Patriotic Instructor for the VFW Auxiliary and is an active member of the Licking Chamber of Commerce. She coordinates vendor activities at multiple events for both Licking Downtown and the Licking Chamber, including notifying vendors of events, receiving vendor applications, assigning sites, marking vendor sites at the location, and organizing setup and takedown at events.

Brannam is instrumental in organizing and implementing Licking Downtown’s annual Fish Fry fundraiser, coordinates applications for memorial bricks at the Memorial for the Fallen, and has been active in planning and implementing several events for Licking Downtown, including bringing the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Licking in 2011.

In her 67 years as a member of the VFW Auxiliary, Brannam has held every office. She joined the organization as a charter member of the Success VFW Auxiliary in 1959; her father was a World War II veteran. When the Success chapter closed, she transferred her membership to Licking. She has assisted (and continues to participate) in coordinating events and activities while supporting the VFW members and other senior veterans in the area, including at the Missouri Veterans Home in St. James.

Her more than eight decades on this Earth have not slowed her much. She also takes in work as a seamstress, grows and preserves vegetables and fruit every year, helps her husband get to doctor appointments and babysits for her great-grandchildren.

At the ceremony, Lt. Governor Wasinger commented on the dedication of these seniors, who often get “more done with less noise.” He commended them for continuing to live a purpose-driven life, well after retirement age.

“We see you; we value you; we are grateful for the service you provide,” he stated at the ceremony.

In addition to the plaque and award presented by Lt. Governor Wasinger, Brannam also received resolutions recognizing her service from both the Senate (sponsored by Senator Brad Hudson) and the House (sponsored by Representative Bennie Cook). This was Brannam’s first visit to the State Capitol, and she enjoyed a personal tour by Rep. Cook while there.