SHALOTTE – Mr. Jesse Abel Bryant, 93, of Shallotte, died Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 at Lower Cape Fear Hospice & Life Care Center in Wilmington.
Mr. Bryant was the son of the late Rev. Samuel James Bryant and Ella Jane Gore Bryant. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eva Mae Fullwood Bryant, seven brothers and one sister.
He was reared in a Christian home in the Brunswick County Community of Cedar Grove in Supply. His formal education was limited to the eighth grade; however, with that limited education God used that portion of the eighth grade and blessed him with the gift of being a dynamic orator and writer. When he wrote and spoke, people listened. He was an advocate of people and their social issues. As a result of his community work and having a passion for people he was once listed in “Who’s Who in Black America.”
In December 1989, he accepted Christ as his personal savior and joined Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church. He remained a faithful member until his health declined.
He was a wonderful son, husband and father. The values that were instilled in him as a preacher’s son were passed down to his children: Go to Sunday school, learn the golden rule and abide by it. Before he accepted Christ as his personal savior he still insisted that his family go to Sunday school and church. Those same values are prevalent in the lives of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren today.
He leaves to cherish his memory: one son, James K. (Julia) Bryant of Wallace, North Carolina; three daughters, Mildred (Ronald) Royster and Rosie Bryant, both of Shallotte, and Ceresta Bryant of Greensboro, North Carolina; four grandchildren, James K. II (Amy) Bryant of Stephens City, Virginia.; Ronald Royster Jr. and Ryan Royster of Shallotte and KaTanya (Eugene) Ingram, of Hilliard, Ohio; five great-grandchildren, Terrell Ingram and Eric Ingram both of Hilliard, Ohio, James K. III, John Triplett and Jason Miles Bryant all of Stephens City, Virginia; one great-godson, Machiah Miller, of Panama City, Florida; in-laws, Mrs. Gladys Bryant, Mrs. Perlene Fullwood, Mrs. Yvonne Fullwood, Mrs. Gerthel Fullwood, all of Supply and Mrs. Gloria Bryant of Bolivia, North Carolina; and a host of other relatives and friends.
The funeral service was held Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, at Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 1229 Cedar Grove Road, SW, Supply. Burial followed at Riley Hewett Cemetery in Supply.