Greeley Vernon Bryant, 86, of Charlotte Street, died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008 at Guardian Care of Roanoke Rapids.
Bryant was a long-time member of Rosemary Baptist Church in Roanoke Rapids. He served his country proudly during World War II, serving as a Corporal in the United States Army.
Upon returning to Roanoke Rapids, Bryant secured a job with White Motors where he was noted as one of their best mechanics, working there until his retirement in 1985.
In his spare time, Bryant was an avid fisherman; patrolling the Roanoke River for rockfish, searching for an elusive bass on Lake Gaston or a day catching bream in one of his favorite fishing holes – “Big Run” on the Potecasi Creek in Northampton County.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon M. Bryant and Millie C. Futrell Bryant; his wife, Opal DeBerry Bryant; a son, Farris Bryant; and two brothers, James Foyd Bryant, formerly of Roanoke Rapids, and Hinton “Ray” Bryant, formerly of the Ashley’s Grove community in Northampton County.
He leaves to cherish his memory, one sister, Geraldine Phillips and husband, Norman, of Emporia, Va.; and nieces and nephews, Jean Bryant Rushing and husband, Sonny, of Brunswick, Ga.; Marie Bryant Holland of Suffolk, Va.; Shirley Bryant McKinney of Brunswick, Ga.; Steve Bryant and wife, Connie, of Roanoke Rapids; Teresa Bryant Hux and husband, Dalton, of Roanoke Rapids; Cindy Bryant Vinson of Murfreesboro; Calvin Bryant and wife, Deborah, of Ahoskie; and Tommy Bryant and wife, Patricia, of Milwaukee.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23 at Hockaday Funeral Home in Roanoke Rapids. Dr. Alfred Askew will conduct the service.
Burial will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery, Roanoke Rapids.