Mrs. Lizzie Bryant

Mrs. Lizzie Irene Guyton Bryant was born on April 1, 1939, to the late Willie Guyton and Carrie Mann Guyton in Cochran, Georgia. She was the fourth of five children.  Irene, as she was called by her family and people who grew up with her, often talked about being raised in church and participating in church programs and recitals. She vividly recounted not memorizing a poem she was given to learn for an Easter recital. When it was her turn at the microphone, she quickly rebounded by quoting a poem she learned in school that started, “Moo cow, moo!”  Writing poetry later became a passion she enjoyed most of her life.  She also recounted how picking cotton before school motivated her educational aspirations.

She attended Cochran Colored High School located in Bleckley County in Cochran, Georgia. While a junior there, she was on the editorial staff for the first annual, The Cochranian for 1956. While perusing the annual, it was discovered that she wrote a brief history of the school. Not only was she on the editorial staff, but she was also in the chorus and participated in table manners and table setting, history class, and the girls’ basketball team. Lizzie Irene Guyton graduated from high school on May 24, 1957.

On December 10, 1960, at the Division Central Chapel in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, she married William Maud Bryant, a United States Army Special Forces soldier. They added to this union three children, Angela, Gregory and Kelvin. She provided a loving home for her husband and children during her marriage. Tragically in March of 1969, she became a widow when William made the ultimate sacrifice for his country during the Vietnam War.  Liz gathered inner strength for herself and her children as they accepted the Congressional Medal of Honor awarded posthumously to her late husband.

Although a single mother, Liz pressed on towards her educational goals by using the GI bill to enroll in Fayetteville State University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education in May 1973. Liz was employed at Butner Elementary School on Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), North Carolina where she taught kindergarten and first grade until she retired in 1999. She loved children and teaching them how to read. She was a strong proponent of literacy education. She created teaching aids like her apple chart to help children learn phonics. She made picture books, like “The Monster Sandwich,” as a building block for speech and communication for preschoolers. During retirement, she was employed as a literacy teacher for adult learners in the Continuing Education Department at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Liz was a longtime, faithful, and active member of College Heights Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville until her health prevented her from attending. She loved and worshipped the Lord with her time, talents, and treasures.  She also became an active member of Elim Christian Fellowship in Greensboro.  As time permitted, Liz would often commute from Fayetteville with her daughter, Angela, to attend mid-week Bible Study and Sunday service.  She enjoyed being a part of the Elim family and was ordained into the Women of Wisdom ministry.

After becoming an empty nester, Lizzie B. married Wiley Baggett.  They often road tripped to bowling tournaments, family events and vacation spots together.  Liz would accept people into her home and provide food, shelter, love and care, educational expenses, and a safe space for her daughter’s YAM meetings. In her spare time, she enjoyed working in her flower garden, playing bingo, bowling, traveling, writing poetry and short stories, cooking, baking, and spending time with family. She also enjoyed a wide selection of musical genres including country, jazz, blues, soul and gospel.  One of her all time favorite artist was Al Greene.  Liz was very creative, too. She boldly displayed throughout her home pillows, curtains, and wallpaper she embellished, crocheted potholders, and items she had sewn. Oh, and do not forget her holiday decoupage soap!

Irene, Rene, Lizzie, Lizzie B., Liz, Mother Bryant, Mama, daughter, sister, cousin, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, friend, teacher, caregiver, prayer warrior, as she was affectionately known, was preceded in death by her parents and her husbands; her sisters, Juanita Sams and Josie Belle King; her brothers, James Guyton and Clemasee Guyton; and her daughter, Angela Renita Bryant Covington. Her memories live on in her sons, Gregory N. Bryant, Sr. (Evelyn) of Fayetteville, NC and Kelvin S. Bryant (Patrice) of Greensboro, NC, with whom her care was entrusted until she left her earthly home; five grandsons, LT Gregory N. Bryant, Jr. (US Navy) of San Diego, CA.; SSgt William L. Bryant (US Air Force) of Altus, OK; Timothy T. Bryant (Abriana) of Greensboro, NC; Patrick S. Bryant of Greensboro, NC; and Stephen A. Bryant of Greensboro, NC.; one granddaughter, Helen Irene Bryant of Greensboro, NC; one brother-in-law, Willie Sams of Atlanta, GA; one sister-in-law, Inez Guyton of Patterson, NJ; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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