Emily Head Bracewell

Emily Head Bracewell, 75, of Atlanta, passed away on May 18, 2026 from metastatic breast cancer. Born to Louise and John T. Head on April 10, 1951, Emily grew up in Decatur while maintaining a deep connection to her family’s roots in Cleveland, Georgia.

After graduating from Towers High School, Emily enrolled in the Piedmont Hospital School of Nursing from 1969 to 1972 where she earned her nursing degree. During this time she also met her husband, John Brooks Bracewell. They were married at Belvedere Methodist Church in Decatur on June 28, 1975. They welcomed two children, Amy and Amanda, and spent over 50 years as a close family. She was known as mom, or “mamacita,” to everyone who met her. She loved to spoil friends and family , and many of Amy and Amanda’s friends were invited on family trips to theme parks, the beach, or family holidays. Emily and John would take care of anyone as family, and fondly adopted their daughters’ friends, especially Yvonne Stoicheva, who frequently would get up to good trouble with Amanda. Emily loved traveling, spending time with family, and supporting local Atlanta teams, especially being a founding member of Atlanta United.

Emily joined the nursing team at Emory Hospital in 1979, where she would remain for 43 years. She was part of the original team to embark on bone marrow transplants and would be at Emory to celebrate over 5,000 transplants during her career. Emily loved her nursing friends and colleagues and was passionate about mentoring the next generation of nurses. She worked tirelessly to ensure the nurses and patients on 6E or 8T celebrated every day of life. From decorating the floor for the Atlanta Olympics or singing Happy Birthday to every patient on their transplant date, Emily made their floor feel bright and joyous. She was proud to serve as a nurse and work with a talented team to provide the highest quality of care to every patient.

Emily is survived by her loving husband, John Bracewell; two daughters, Amy Brooke Bracewell and Amanda Leigh Bracewell; brothers and sisters-in-law, Tarp and Desiree Head and Bob Head and Joy Parks; sisters-in-law Anne Ranne and Camilla Bracewell; nephews and nieces,  Annabelle Head, JT Head, Alison and Bryan McCullick, and Brian and Brenda Roebuck; great nephews and nieces Adaline McCullick, Hannah, Christopher, and Matthew Roebuck.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting Paws Atlanta, or the Oncology Nursing Foundation, which provides scholarships for young nurses to attend their annual conference. A Memorial Service and Reception will be held at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church at 1660 North Decatur Road in Atlanta on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 2pm in the Little Chapel. Gravesite internment in Cleveland, Georgia will be planned for a later date.