Mrs. Odessa Griggs Bryant
Sister Odessa Bryant, 102, of Monticello, transitioned from this life on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Bryant and beloved only son, Hillard Jordan, Jr.
Sister Odessa is survived by grandson, Hillard III of Pittsburgh, PA and granddaughter, Rozalia Jones (Richard) of Newport News, VA; great-grandson, Bryant of Denver, CO, great-granddaughter, Isabella of Pittsburgh.
Sister Odessa Bryant was a bona fide Life Member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. This is not because of age, but an honor bestowed only on a few, throughout the 209 organized years of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Sister Odessa Bryant was an active delegate for 40 years in the Pittsburg Annual Conference. The Pittsburg Annual Conference elected her to serve on the Bicentennial Committee when the African Methodist Episcopal Church reached 200 years.
Sister Bryant accomplished the incredible feat of serving as a delegate to the General Conference in 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000. To this date many of the Bishops asked about her well-being after not seeing her at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 General Conferences. Upon receiving the accolades and well-wishes, Sister Bryant tells the stories over and over of how she assisted many of the bishops to reach their goals.
Sister Bryant served under Bishops: Wilkes, Bearden, Anderson and Hilderbrand in the Third Episcopal District. She served under Bishops: Cummings, DeVeaux, Williams and Jackson in the Sixth Episcopal District. These bishops allowed her to participate on committees for upkeep of two historical firsts for African Americans – Wilberforce University and Payne Theological Seminary.
While in the Pittsburg Annual Conference, Sister Bryant traveled throughout the Mid-Western North Eastern and West Coast Regions of the United States of America and the Islands, attending all the Women’s Missionary Society, Lay and other events.
Sister Bryant returned to Georgia in 2002 and was active in both Griggs Chapel and Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Churches. In 2005, Sister Bryant organized the Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church Lay Organization according to the bi-laws of the 1948 General Conference.
From 2005 to 2015, she represented Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church at all the Lay Banquets, Lay meetings, young Adult Department Gospel Explosions and all events of the Atlanta North Georgia Annual Conference. Sister Odessa Bryant alternated as Queen (along with Sister Mary Elaine Odom, the late Dorothy Jean Phillips and the late Alice Louise Goolsby), for the East Atlanta District of the Atlanta North Georgia Annual Conference.
Sister Bryant served on the Saint James Board of Stewards from 2004 to 2018. She was Lay President from 2005 to 2018. She was a Stewardess; Sister Bryant attended the Seasoned Saints Bible Study from 2002 to 2015. She attended both the noon and evening Bible Studies from 2004 to 2015. The young adults looked forward to Sister Bryant each week in the evening Bible Study, especially her caramel cake and other delights.
She never missed a moment to educate the young people. She knew each of them by name. Sister Bryant walked from her home to the church each day, if her ride was not on time. From 2004 to 2015, she showed up to tutor the children after school. She, along with Sister Lillie B. Standifer, the late Edna Sands Standifer, Ruby Boykin, Mary Elaine Odom, Cora Ann Whidby, Tiffany Whidby Sylve, Shakela Jackson, the late Dorothy Goolsby, and the Rev. Marilyn Elizabeth Shields showed up to collate the annual Lenten Guides, Church Anniversary Souvenir Journals, homemade Easter Baskets and never missed a Sunday Worship Service.
Sister Bryant gave generously to Saint Paul in Pittsburg, Griggs Chapel, Saint James and all surrounding churches, the Jasper Care Corps, the Get Ahead House and others. Her philanthropic endeavors are forever treasured.
Sister Bryant waited many years, after her return to Georgia, for her official Life Membership Cape and Certificate. She was persistent but never became bitter as she awaited what was rightfully hers since 1984. We obtained confirmation of her Life Membership status and presented it to the Atlanta North Georgia Annual Conference in 2010. Four years later it arrived. Sister Bryant wore it with pride and genuine joy each first Sunday over her white attire. As aforementioned, the honor has been bestowed only upon a few out of millions of members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church worldwide! Prior to her limited trips to the year-long events, many showed up to a powerful, power-packed Missionary Day, honoring Sister Bryant, in 2015, organized by Sister Lillie B. Standifer.
What gave Sister Bryant unspeakable joy on that day, were the many children and young adults who surrounded her after church for more that an hour. They dubbed her “Madam Foxy” (but respectfully whispered it), for her extraordinarily beautiful array of clothing and shoes. Both young and old admired her genuine fur coat.
Entering the Jasper County Retreat was not the end of Sister Odessa Bryant’s active attendance. She called the Pastor’s Office, from 2015 to 2018, to say she is dressed and waiting. Those who went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure Sister Bryant arrived to church were, Sisters: Audrey Juanita Norris, Lottie Norris, Frances Harris Smith, Lillie B. Standifer, Althea Elise Smith Parham, and Mary Elaine Odom. The men who assisted her arrival were: Thomas Whidby, Jr., Fred “Mr. Bud” Jordan, John Wesley “Foxx” Carter, Keith Standifer, Quinton Roosevelt Standifer and Colonel Walter E. Smith.
Sister Odessa Bryant’s accomplishments can fill a book. Each year her biography was submitted, as required annually by the Atlanta North Georgia Annual Conference, more was added because her desire to serve was insatiable!
Final arrangements entrusted to Smith and Sons Funeral Home, 923 Funderburg Drive, Monticello, Ga. 31064; 706-468-6625; smithfunhm@bellsouth.net; www.smithandsonsfuneralhomemonticello.com