Born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, Mrs. Brannon earned her degrees in Biology and Spanish before getting married and relocating to the Caribbean. Over the course of nearly a decade there, she helped manage a homeless shelter under the auspices of the Catholic Church, taught at the high school and university levels, and worked as a federal court interpreter. Upon returning to the mainland, she pursued her passion for healthcare, earning a degree in nursing. Since then, her nursing career has been dedicated entirely to working with new families.