Our Staff

Jeff Brant is the co-owner of the BRANT FUNERAL SERVICE IN SCIOTOVILLE.  After graduating from East High School and Rio Grande College, he became a teacher at Clay High School.  Following that tenure, he became a United State Air Force veteran of the Viet Nam War, leaving the service as a 1st Lieutenant.  Because of Jeff’s G.I. benefit, he went on to graduate from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.  He has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer for over 45 years.  Jeff, and his wife, Barb, have a daughter and son-in-law, Kristi and Darrell Murphy and a grandson and granddaughter, Kole and Abby Murphy.

Barbara Brant is the co-owner of the BRANT FUNERAL SERVICE IN SCIOTOVILLE.  She graduated from East High School, and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Ohio University and an M.A. in Multiple Intelligences from the University of Rio Grande.  A retired teacher from Portsmouth City Schools, she had 30 years of service and is non-licensed. 

Todd Preston is a graduate of Wheelersburg High School, attended Marshall University, and has a Bachelor’s degree from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Todd has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer for 27 years and is married to Jill Williams Preston. She is a graduate of Wheelersburg High School, Morehead State University, and the University of Phoenix. Jill is employed at Southern Ohio Medical Center, where she is the Manager of Workforce Development and Community Health and Wellness and is non-licensed. They have one son, Tanner, who is a student at Capital University and a miniature schnauzer, Griffin.

Clara began working for the Windel-Howland & Brant Funeral Home located in Portsmouth in 1977.  Soon afterward, the Brant Funeral Home in Sciotoville was purchased and included in her work responsibilities.  In 1991 she changed career paths and began working at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, retiring in 2012.  In December 2021 she returned to work as an Administrative Assistant for Brant Funeral Service.  She is a native of Scioto County, a graduate of Wheelersburg High School and a member of Scioto Free Will Baptist Church in Lucasville.  Clara is married to Daniel Widdig, who has served as pastor to several churches in Southern Ohio and Hillsboro.  They are parents of four children, Jim, Becky, Lori and Jason and have eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.  Clara’s favorite hobbies are reading, working on her flowers, and caring for her three pets.  She also enjoys filling in as a pianist for other churches when needed.

Georgianna is a native of Scioto County, a graduate of Clay High School and Grant Hospital School of Nursing in Columbus.

She retired in 2019 after 58 years in nursing, having worked Medical Surgical patient care, Pediatrics, Public Health/School Nurse and Nursing Rehabilitation.

Georgianna attends the Cedar Street Church of Christ in Christian Union in New Boston and her hobbies are reading and crafts.  She has one son, Bill Mershon. 

She joined the Brant Funeral Service staff in July 2022.