Teacher Dies Following Battle With Cancer, Dementia

CANTON, GA -- The Sixes Elementary School community is mourning the loss of an educator who spent two decades teaching Cherokee County School District studentns. Brandon English, a physical education teacher, died Tuesday, Dec. 19 at his home in Canton, according to his obituary posted by South Canton Funeral Home.

English had to step down from his post in 2016 after he was diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), a rare form of dementia that affects people of all ages.

According to a GoFundMe page set up for the family last year, English was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2005. After numerous chemotherapy and radiation treatments and a bone marrow transplant, English was able to return to work.

He was hospitalized in 2015, but returned to work in January 2016. A few months later, a change in his personality and behavior prompted the family to seek out answers, and doctors at Emory University diagnosed him with FTD, the now-closed GoFundMe campaign states.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, the nerve cell damage caused by FTD "leads to loss of function in these brain regions, which variably cause deterioration in behavior and personality, language disturbances, or alterations in muscle or motor functions."

English taught for 20 years with the school system, and coached district football, basketball and baseball teams. When he wasn't in the classroom, he served as an assistant scout leader and was an avid outdoorsman and athlete. He also was a member of New Covenant Bible Church.

Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Hightower said English will be missed by the district's students and staff.

"He inspired his students and his colleagues alike with his enthusiasm for teaching, for coaching and for life," he added. "His knowledge of and dedication to exercise and nutrition was a model of fitness from which both students and adults learned. We hope everyone in our community will keep his family in their hearts."

Funeral services for English are planned for 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22 at Hickory Road Baptist Church, his obituary notes. Interment will follow at Macedonia Memorial Park. The family will accept visitors from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21 and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 22 at South Canton Funeral Home.

English is survived by wife, Paige English, who also teaches at Teasley Middle School; children, Claire and Samuel; parents, Sammy and Desie English; brother, Javin (Bridgett) English; grandfather, Desmer Scroggins; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Robert (Mary) Wofford; niece, Emma; nephews, Reid and Eli; and numerous family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, you are asked to make a contribution to the Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation, which sent the English family to Hawaii in November. You can also make a contribution to New Covenant Bible Church missions.

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