Dr. Bessie Swanson Bryant, 94, born June 15, 1916 in Finchburg, Monroe County, former resident of Bay Minette and a residnet of Huntsville since 1980, died died Friday, May 27, 2011 at her home.
She was the daughter and youngest of 11 children born to Thomas Winder and Bessie Holmes Swanson.
A graduate of Auburn University, she was a retired educator. She received her Master’s Degree from the University of South Alabama in 1969, and her PhD from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1978. During her lifelong career as an educator, she taught kindergarten, junior and senior high school English and math, ending her career as a professor of speech and reading at Faulkner State Junior College in Bay Minette.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Bay Minette, having taught Sunday School for many years. An avid bridge player, she was a champion duplicate bridge player, and taught the game to many.
In Bay Minette, she was active in the community. She was a founding member of the Bay Minette Cotillion Club, the coordinator of the 1959 Baldwin County Sesquicentennial, founding member of the Bay Minette Youth Foundation, and a charter member of the Zachariah Godbold Chapter of the DAR.
In Huntsville, she attended the First United Methodist Church and was active in the Sunday School class and Church Circle. She was active in Community Bible Study for over 15 years, a member of the DAR, UDC, various bridge clubs, and the Junior Welfare League, having served as secretary and president.
She will most be remembered for her generosity and selfless encouragement of others.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ausphera Charles Bryant in 1971.
Survivors include two daughters, Kathleen “Kathy” Bryant Gianetti of Whitehouse Station, N.J., and Elizabeth “Betsy” Bryant (Edward Lewis) Stevenson of Huntsville; grandsons, Bryant Lewis (Maryam) Stevenson of Las Vegas and Blake Edward (Julie) Stevenson of Huntsville; and great-grandsons, Hugh Blake Stevenson and Luke Sanders Stevenson, both of Huntsville.
Visitation in Huntsville will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 31 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. Visitation in Bay Minette begins at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 2 at Norris Funeral Home. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. at Garden of the Cross Cemetery, Bay Minette.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Operation Blessing International, P.O. Box 2636, Virginia Beach, VA 23450, or to Samaritan’s Purse. P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.
Arrangements are by Laughlin Service Funeral Home, Huntsville.
