All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Michael Leon Branson

Michael Leon Branson, age 59, of Buckhannon, WV, died Thursday, October 17, 2024, at WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital in Buckhannon. He was born January 31, 1965, in New Port News, VA, a son of the late William Leon Branson and Margaret Ellen Linger Tenney. On May 8, 2005, he married Cindy McHenry who survives of Buckhannon.

Also surviving is one stepdaughter, Meghan Reynolds and companion, Turk Miles of Weston, WV; one stepson, Andrew Reynolds and wife Ashley of Weston; four granddaughters, Addison, Addaleigh, Emma and Paisley Reynolds all of Weston; one grandson, Walker Reynolds of Weston; one brother, Mark Branson of Buckhannon; three sisters, Tammy Carroll, Tonya Smith and husband Rocky all of Elkins, WV, and Tina Bailey and husband Brian of Jane Lew, WV; several nieces and nephews; his beloved dogs, Chloe and Dixie, and his cat, Stormy.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepson, Gerald Reynolds; granddaughter, Peyton Reynolds, and one sister, Laura Tenney. Michael loved to camp with his family around the campfires. He was a jack of all trades who could fix anything.

Friends will be received Sunday, October 20, 2024, from 12 Noon to 2 PM at the Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 2 PM Sunday at the funeral home with Rev. Wease L. Day officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Lebanon Church Cemetery in Buckhannon.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

My Buckhannon publishes obituaries free of charge as a courtesy to the family. Readers can support our publication by becoming a premium member.

Share this obituary:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Carpenter Crunch Time Week 12; Narduzzi said what?

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi drew criticism for dismissing the Notre Dame game’s importance, while the columnist recapped his My Buckhannon picks contest standings and weekend high school and college predictions.

Football Bucs to open playoffs at No. 1 Morgantown

Buckhannon-Upshur (2-8) enters the Class AAAA playoffs as the No. 16 seed and will visit top-seeded Morgantown (9-1) Friday night, seeking progress after a winless 2024 season.
BUHS Boys Soccer Feature Image

Five Buccaneers named to WVHSSCA All-State Soccer Team

Five Buckhannon-Upshur juniors — Coby Smith, Jimmie Green, Zack Simmons, Brady Hommema and Deacon Thorne — were named to the 2025 WVHSSCA All-State Soccer teams, with Smith leading the Buccaneers with 19 goals.

Buckhannon Community Theater seeks vintage toys for Rudolph production

Buckhannon Community Theater is seeking vintage toys to bring their holiday production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr. to life on stage this December.

Charles W. Gibson Library to hold book sale starting November 20

The Charles W. Gibson Public Library will host a book sale November 20-22.

Supreme Court sides with St. Joseph’s Hospital, puts the brakes on new Lewis County hospital

The West Virginia Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital must obtain a Certificate of Need before building a new hospital near I-79 in Weston, siding with St. Joseph’s Hospital in a years-long legal battle that could determine the future of both facilities.

Help Wanted: City of Buckhannon seeking municipal office clerk

The City of Buckhannon is looking for a motivated, well-organized clerk to support its municipal and utility offices. The position is central to serving the public and helping manage the day-to-day operations of local government and utility services.

Upshur County Public Library offers Food for Fines program in November to support local hunger relief

The Upshur County Public Library will accept non-perishable food donations in exchange for reduced library fines throughout November during its Food for Fines program.

Upshur County Special Olympics teams bring home silver medals

Upshur County Special Olympics teams earned silver medals in volleyball and unified flag football at the state fall festival in Parkersburg, marking the program’s first flag football team in over eight years.

Remember pancreatic cancer awareness in November and wear purple on Nov. 20

Annette Fetty-Santilli reminds community to observe November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and wear purple on Nov. 20 to raise awareness and advocate for increased federal research funding for a disease with low early detection and a 13% five-year survival rate.
BUHS Girls Soccer Feature Image

Five Lady Bucs named to WVHSSCA Class AAAA All-State Team

Five Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Bucs — Mallory Hughes, Sidney Hollen, Rylen Carlyle, Kallie Perry and Haley Triplett — were named to the WVHSSCA Class AAAA girls All-State teams.

Raising the Jolly Roger With… Garrett Cutright

Buckhannon-Upshur senior Garrett Cutright, a multi-sport athlete headed to WVU for petroleum engineering, reflects on favorite moments, coaches, family influences, and advice for future Buccaneers.