James Bryant

James Michael Bryant was born on May 1, 1930, to Joshua Bryant and Carrie (Mack), the ninth child in a family of ten children--five boys and five girls—who lived in Harleyville, South Carolina, a small town in Dorchester County. Rather than following the path of his siblings by working on the farm, Bryant decided he could best help his family by earning his Bachelors degree in Agriculture and Organic Chemistry at South Carolina State University. It was here that Bryant joined ROTC, and upon graduation, enrolled in the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant Officer. Over the course of his 20-year career in the military, Bryant climbed the ranks of the Army to First Lieutenant, Captain, and finally Major, served multiple tours in such places as Germany, Panama, Korea, and Vietnam, and received multiple Presidential honors for his service in Vietnam and Korea. Bryant retired from the United States Army on September 30, 1973. After retiring from the Army, Bryant moved his family to Florissant, Missouri, and began working at Allstate Insurance Company. Referred by his friends as “an officer and gentleman”, Bryant retired from Allstate after a twenty-year career on December 31, 1993. Bryant was also very active in his church, St. Peter AME, and over the years served as financial secretary, Sunday School teacher, Steward, and captain of the Usher Board. He also was honored with the Christian Man of the Year Award in 2003. Major James Michael Bryant was a devoted husband to his wife of 51 years, Linda Marie (Billings) Bryant. The loving couple—who often referred to each other as soulmates—was introduced by a mutual friend in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and married three months later on November 9, 1963. Bryant was a loving father to their five children, a kind and patient grandfather, and a beloved great-grandfather. He had a passion for gardening, sang in quartet with his brothers, and was an avid science fiction fan, especially Star Trek and The Twilight Zone. He is survived by his wife Linda, his brother John, his children Cindy, Lois, Michelle (Nelson), Lawrence, and Cheryl; son-in-law Kraig Nelson; daughter-in-law Demetria; grandchildren Candice, Jazmyn, Dejah, Kennedi, and Karsyn; great-grandchild Eva; countless nieces, nephews, family and friends; and his faithful canine companion, Fred. He will be missed more than words can express. Services: Procession from Hutchens Mortuary, 675 Graham Rd, Florissant, Friday, Sept. 19 at 9:15 AM to St. Peter AME Church, 4730 Margaretta Ave., St. Louis, MO for a 10:30 AM funeral service. Interment Jefferson Barrack National Cemetery. Visitation Thursday, Sept. 18 at Hutchens Mortuary from 4-8 PM.

James Bryant

May 1, 1930 - September 14, 2014