Charles and Nancy Bryant

Charles & Nancy Bryant, Bethany Baptist Church Obituaries

Edited by Spessard Stone from church records, courtesy of Vera Dupree

Charles �Charlie� Bryant

Introduction: Charles "Charlie" Bryant was born November 5, 1847.(1) On February 25, 1870, he married Nancy Rich. They moved from Decatur County, Georgia to Fort Green, Florida in December 1874 and then in 1875 to the Rye area of Manatee County. In October 1894, he was baptized into Manatee Baptist Church of God (later known as Bethany Baptist Church). While fishing at his favorite fishing place, Bee Gum Slough, south of Bethany community, he died of a heart attack on October 25, 1905. He was the first person to have a page dedicated to him from Bethany Baptist Church. He had served in the Home Guard in Georgia, and his widow applied for a pension

January 21, 1906

     We as members of Bethany Church do humbly acknowledge our love and respect for our Brother Bryant, whom God in his mercy and goodness has called higher.

     He, Brother Bryant, lived a faithful member of this church for years and a helpful Christian.

     Done by order of Conference,

     S. Phillips Clerk

CHARLES BRYANT BORN NOV.5,1847 DIED OCT.25,1905
Stewart Family Cemetery, Photo, Courtesy of Melissa S. Brewer

     Sister Nancy Bryant

     Our hearts were grieved and made sad when it was made known that our beloved sister Nancy Bryant had passed away for the reasons that she was and had been a mother for this community. She has lodged more strangers and fed more of the saints of God than any other known to us. She was always at her post of duty as a Christian to render service to God or assistance to mankind. She was always loyal to her church and the support of her pastor, and to say that we miss her will be too little, yet we must submit to God�s will and look forward to the time when we will be reunited in a land where there will be no deaths, no sorrow, pain, or grief.

     Sister Bryant was born in Decatur County, Ga. April 2, 1847 and was married to Charlie Bryant Feb. 25th 1870 and moved to Ft. Green, Florida December 1874. In 1875 she moved with her husband to Manatee County and settled on the farm where she has since continued to live untill God in his wisdom saw fit to call her home Nov. 16, 1934.

     March 23, 1890 she was baptised by Rev. J. M. Hendry and received into full fellowship of the Bethany Baptist Church, to which she has been loyal and ever ready to hold up and defend.

     Her husband died October 1905. Since that time she has lived a widow.

     But to this union was born three sons and four daughters, all of which are left to mourn her departure, besides thirty seven grandchildren, fifty six great-grandchildren and an unnumbered host of relations and friends to mourn her passing.

     Therefore, be it resolved by the Bethany Baptist Church, that in the death of Sister Bryant, our church has lost a faithful member, and our community a kind friend.

     Be it further Resolved, that a page of our church record be given to her memory and a copy of these Resolutions and Obituary be furnished the family.

     Respectfully Submitted

     E. L. Corbitt
     Mrs. Lillie Powell
     Mrs. Susie E. Rye
     Mrs. Ora Walters
     Committee

     See also When We Came To Florida and Bryants.

Nancy Rich Bryant (1847-1934) & Charles Bryant (1847-1905), Myakka City, Fla.

Standing L-R: Thomas Bryant, Louisa Bryant Locklear, Benjamin Bryant, Hattie Bryant McLeod, Mary Bryant Phillips, Rosa Bryant Gill, James Bryant; seated Nancy Bryant holding unidentified child, April 1934, Courtesy of Betty Jo McLeod White

Endnote

(1) Melissa S. Brewer stated that Bethany Church records has his birth as November 4, 1847.

November 30, 200, May 17, June 13, 2002