Obituaries

Mary Janet Bryant

Photo of Mary Janet Bryant
Janet Bryant of Stuttgart, Arkansas, died July 11, 2018. She was born Mary Janet Bailey on November 30, 1935, in the Baileytown community of Claiborne Parish Louisiana. She was the daughter of the late Rev. George Clements Bailey and Ocie Ovelia Ellis Bailey. She attended a number of schools in Arkansas as her father was a Methodist preacher who moved often in her early school years due to the war when preachers were joining the military as chaplains, which left a shortage of preachers. Janet graduated from Fordyce High School, and later took classes at the U of A Phillips Community College. Janet married May 24, 1952 in Louann, Arkansas, the love of her life, Joseph Sterling Bryant, and became the mother of 4 wonderful children. She gave of her time to the organizations her children were involved in. she served as Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout leader, Band Parent President, and Sunday school teacher. In 1974, Janet began working for the Arkansas County Treasurer in DeWitt. Upon moving to Stuttgart in 1976, she worked as Deputy Assessor for Arkansas County where she worked until her retirement in December of 1995. She was certified in personal property assessment by the State of Arkansas and by the IAAO in real estate appraisal. In 1998, she became J.P. for District 8 of Arkansas County where she served for 10 years. She served as the J.P. representative for Arkansas County to all state meetings. Janet served on the Arkansas County Restoration and Preservation Committee, whose mission was restoring and/or preserving the irreplaceable Arkansas County records that date back to the early 1800's. She enjoyed her work with the county and loved performing weddings occasionally. She was an avid genealogist and was a charter member for the Grand Prairie Genealogical Society and served as Vice President and President and served on the board of directors of that organization. She also served on the Board of the Arkansas Genealogical Society. She served as a genealogical helper at the Stuttgart Public Library on Saturday afternoons. In 2004, after years of research and hard work, she published a family history called "Bailey Memories." She considered this one of her biggest accomplishments, other than being a mother to her children. She was a member of the Grand Avenue United Methodist Church, where she served on the administrative board and the United Methodist Women. She was preceded in death by her wonderful husband, Joe Bryant. She is survived by three sons, Mike Bryant and wife Rebecca of Bryant; David Bryant and wife Becky of Cabot; and Jeff Bryant and wife Danyell of Alexander. One daughter, Judy Langston and husband Charles of Little Rock. 13 grandchildren; Christy Notley and husband Matt of DeKalb, Texas; Misty Yant and husband J.J. of Little Rock; Bryan Langston and wife Amber of Rogers; Becca Steven and husband Chris of Benton; Montie Bryant of Hot Springs; Dorothy Flournoy and husband Sterling of Little rock; Laura Bryant Taylor and husband David of Russellville; Ashley Bryant Hancock and husband Lonnie of Jacksonville; Joseph Bryant and wife Ashley of Ward; Powell Bryant and wife Courtney of Rogers; and Andrei, Ivan & Morgan Bryant of Alexander; four great-grandsons, Ryan and Tyler Yant; Bengamin Langston of Rogers and Logan Hancock; two great-granddaughters, Lilly Langston and Bailey Bryant; one brother, James Bailey of Quincy, Ill..; sister-in-laws, Virginia Bryant of Little Rock; Montine Bryant of Fordyce; Shirley Cherry of Odem, Texas; and Pat Belin of Hermitage and a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews of Arkansas and Texas. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m., Monday, July 16, 2018, at Turpin Funeral Home with visitation beginning at 10 a.m., and burial following at 3:00 p.m. in Smith Morgan Cemetery in Cleveland County, Ark. Active pallbearers will be Bryan Langston, Montie Bryant, Joseph Bryant, Powell Bryant, Chris Steven and J.J. Yant. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Grand Prairie Genealogy Society. Memorials may be made to the Grand Avenue United Methodist Church, or a charity of your choice. Please go to www.turpin-co.com to sign the online guestbook.

Published July 13, 2018

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