James S. "Jim" Bryant

James S. "Jim" Bryant of Lenoir passed away on February 15, 2017, at Abernathy Laurels in Newton, NC.

Jim Bryant was born January 20, 1915, in Chase City, Virginia. He recently actively celebrated his 102nd birthday with food, presents, and a large number of family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John S. and Bertha Bentley Bryant, a number of brothers and sisters, and his beloved wife of over 60 years, Beryl Mae Pennell Bryant. His survivors include: sisters, Meriam Parsons of Lenoir and Ruth Cox of Jacksonville, and his seven children and spouses: Jimmie & Sharon Bryant of Lenoir, Sharon Bryant of Sherrills Ford, Lannie & Lynn Bryant of Las Cruces, NM, Cheerie Patneaude of Las Cruces, NM, Lesia & David Gonzalez, of Alamogordo, NM, Regina & Bruce Reitzel, of Maiden, and Regie Bryant & Kimberly Hanson of Charlotte. He is survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Services will be Sunday, February 19, in Lenoir, NC.

Jim not only led a long life; one filled with adventure, travel, family, and many fascinating stories of his journeys and escapades. He traveled extensively in the United States, and while he lived most of his life in and around Lenoir, he also lived a number of years in Twin Falls, Idaho and Alamogordo, New Mexico. He was a devoted son, brother, husband, and father, a loyal provider to his family, a true friend to many, and truly good to his word.

Jim will always be remembered as an avid outdoorsman and a renowned shot with pistol and rifle, and could easily shoot a thrown penny out of the air with a .22 pistol.

He worked in many different occupations including logging, farming, pipelines, carpentry, furniture manufacture, and was a small business owner. He spent 12 years as a technician contractor for the U.S. Air Force at the Holloman AFB High Speed Test Track aerospace test facility. He was a member of College Avenue Baptist Church in Lenoir.

He will be missed for many things, the twinkling steel grey eyes, the smiles, the stories of his life, the advice and counsel, the bright hello answer on the phone, his care and love, and his living life fully and completely.

Somewhere in God's heaven, he is driving fast down a gravel road in an old Ford, sideways through the curves, dawn's light behind him, a pistol in one hand, the wheel in the other, with his wife beside him.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James S. "Jim" Bryant, please visit our floral store.