The illegitimate son of James Elias Brady and Rebecca Mealer (daughter of Matthew Mealer and Arletta Smith-Mealer), James Franklin Brady was born on October 19, 1879, in the Currahee district of Habersham County, Georgia.

According to Cora Iola Brady-Ledbetter (who was James Franklin Mealer-Brady's daughter - and an avid genealogy researcher), at the time of James Franklin Mealer Brady's birth, James Elias Brady was married to his second wife, Mary L. Brewer (they married on April 30, 1876). However, in the U.S. “Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007”, James Franklin Brady lists his mother as “Mary L. Brewer”. The U.S. Census records appear to corroborate Cora Iola Brady-Ledbetter's version of the events.

Rachel Mealer and her sister had been working on James Elias Brady's farm.

The 1880 U.S. Census indicates that Rebecca Mealer, and her infant son “Franklin Mealer”, were boarders living with James Elias Brady & Mary L. Brewer-Brady. 18 months after James Franklin Mealer Brady was born, Rachel Mealer became sick with dysentery. She died 3 days later. Prior to her death, she asked Mary to raise him. This led to James Elias Brady & Mary L. Brewer-Brady adopting James Franklin Mealer Brady.

Rebecca Mealer is buried at the foot of Soapstone Mt. beside Willis Simmons (on Government land).

James Franklin Brady married Emma Cordelia Simmons.

Emma Cordelia Simmons (March 31, 1882 - July 15, 1966) was the daughter of John Simmons and Hester Anne Whiten (daughter of Oliver Whiten & Rachel).

And they initially lived in a one-room log cabin situated on a knoll at the foot of the “Rushy Branch” in the Leatherwood Community. At that time, the Leatherwood Community was located in Habersham County, Georgia. On August 18, 1905, the state legislature established the 179-square-mile Stephens County, Georgia's 143rd, from parts of Franklin and Habersham counties. The Leatherwood Community is now located in Stephens County.

They had the following children:

1. Unnamed Infant (1901-1901). Buried at Tates Creek Baptist Church.²⁾
2. Cora Iola Brady (Feb. 18, 1902 – August 1996)
3. Nora Bell Brady(June 21, 1904 - July 21, 1938). Buried at Liberty Hill Baptist Church
4. Benjamin Bryant Brady (Sept. 30, 1905 - Sept. 20, 1935). Buried at Dewy Rose Baptist Church (Elbert County, Georgia).³⁾
5. Elias Grant Brady (March 7, 1907 - Feb. 4, 1988). Buried in Elmhurst Cemetery (Elberton, Georgia).⁴⁾
6. Clarence Thurston Brady (Nov. 4, 1908 - Jan. 7, 1910). Buried at Tates Creek Baptist Church.⁵⁾
7. Ophelia Jane Brady (Nov. 30, 1910 - Dec. 15, 2003), Buried at Fork Creek Baptist Church. She was very active in the “Order of the Eastern Star”,and would use her sewing machine to make clothes for the poor children in her area. She was also one of the first people in the County to own a car.
8. Richard Homer Brady (March 25, 1913 - ). Married and had 3 girls. The mother died in child-birth. Ophelia helped raise the children. Richard Homer Brady then married his sister-in-law.
9. James Fred Brady (Oct. 6, 1915 - Oct. 13, 1989). Buried at Liberty Hill Baptist Church.
10. Ernest Lawton Brady (Aug, 8, 1918 - Sept. 3, 1987), Buried in Stephens County Memorial Gardens (Toccoa, Georgia).⁶⁾
11. Martha Mozella Brady (Oct. 1, 1921 - )

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Some time after the 1920 U.S. Census, James Franklin Brady moved the family to Centerville (Elbert County), Georgia.

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James Franklin Brady died on March 18, 1944, in Goss (Elbert County), Georgia, when he was 64 years old. He was buried at Liberty Hill Baptist Church cemetery, Eastanollee (Stephens County), Georgia.

Emma Cordelia Simmons died on July 15, 1966 (at age 86) in Stephens County, Georgia. (Georgia Death Certificate# 022888)