Ruby Nell Bryant

Mrs. Ruby Nell Jolly Bryant June 9, 1945 – January 2021 (Age 75) Obituary “This is Her Story, This is Her Song: It is Our Love Story, It is Our Love Song” Ruby Nell Jolly Bryant, the second of three children, was born on June 9, 1945, to the late Elsie Mae Flowers Jolly and George Gordon Jolly in Ozark, Alabama. She joined St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church at an early age. She graduated valedictorian of the Ozark D. A. Smith High School, Class of 1963. She was a star basketball player, member of the Science/Chemistry Club, Math Club, Library Club, and Home Economics. She earned a PhD in Life, Love and Service during her seventy-five years of earthly duties. Ruby was married to her high school sweetheart Calvin Bryant, Jr. for fifty-three glorious and wonderful years when God called her Home. To this union, three children were born: Adrian Bernard Bryant, Thurston Lamont Bryant, and Tiffany Ashley Bryant. Ruby and Calvin were blessed with two loving daughters-in-law and two grandsons. Ruby touched many people’s lives in a very positive and special way. She loved and cared for people. She always treated them with respect. She was held in the very highest esteem by them. She was an amazing storyteller who could bring memories and adventures to life with her infectious laughter and keen recall. So this is her story and this is her song. Ruby loved to talk and sing praises to the Lord. She sang at weddings and special events. She was always uplifting. Ruby had tremendous courage. She was fearless, kind, and loving and didn’t let anything get her down or get in the way of doing good things for people. She would say we should not sing we shall endure; we should sing we shall overcome. She was a very devoted and protective mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, classmate, friend, and neighbor. This is her story and this is her song. She was very proud of her husband, children, grandchildren, friends, immediate and extended family members. Ruby and Calvin were selfless and dedicated. They worked hard to help others succeed. As an Army wife, Ruby was a member of the Parents and Teachers Associations, Army Officers Wives Clubs, and served on the College Scholarship Boards for children of Army Enlisted, NCOs, and Officers families. She was also an elementary substitute teacher in Hawaii. She sponsored Easter Egg Hunts and Christmas Parties. She volunteered and chaperoned high school choirs to concerts at Hershey Park, PA; Disney World Orlando, FL; Myrtle Beach, SC; and Lincoln Memorial Monument in Washington, DC. She also enjoyed Handel’s Messiah at the Kennedy Center every year; concerts at the College of William and Mary; and Christmas tours at the White House. She attended graduations for her husband and children at Tuskegee University, Princeton University, Auburn University, College of William and Mary, James Madison University, Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. Ruby always dressed impeccably with a stunning hat for each occasion. She loved Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, New Years, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events for family and friends. She would cook a feast for each and every one of those occasions. She was a great and superb cook. Ruby was an avid gardener. She had a passion for flowers and working outside. She planted roses, tulips, daffodils, sunflowers, wild flowers, and dogwood trees everywhere. She loved birds and placed bird feeders everywhere. Ruby, her husband, and children traveled around the world from Ozark, Alabama to Fort Benning, GA; Fort Devens, MA; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Okinawa, Japan; Taiwan; Kansas; Huntsville, Alabama; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Fort Bragg, NC; Carlisle, PA; Fort Meade, MD; Zweibrücken, Germany; Munich, Germany; Augsburg, Germany; Switzerland; Austria; Italy; France; Washington, DC; and Virginia. She and her family loved every minute and every mile. Ruby always took delight in meeting people and going places. Ruby always sent White House Christmas ornaments to relatives and friends. She always sent birthday cards and loved to give Christmas presents to her children, grandchildren, daughters-in-law, husband, relatives, and friends. Ruby always invited her children’s friends and classmates to stop by to visit, stay a while, and enjoy a good home-cooked meal. The welcome mat was always out and there were always visitors. On Sunday, January 24, 2021, while sitting in the living room with her husband, God called His Faithful and Devoted Servant to be with Him in Heaven. Ruby was preceded in death by her parents Mr. George Gordon Jolly and Mrs. Elsie Flowers Jolly, her sister Mrs. Edna Louise Jolly Skates, and her brother Sergeant First Class (Army, Retired) George Madison Jolly. She will forever be loved, cherished, and in the hearts and minds of her husband, Colonel (Army, Retired) Calvin Bryant, Jr.; her children, Adrian Bernard Bryant, Thurston Lamont Bryant, and Tiffany Ashley Bryant; her daughters-in-law, Errical Pouncy Bryant and Meri Siirala; her grandsons, Orson Eero Ilmari Bryant and Theron Elijah Bryant; special and devoted niece, Ruby Yvette Skates Byrd; great-aunt Mrs. Gussie Jackson; aunt Mrs. Bessie Flowers Faniel and uncle Mr. Willie Faniel, Ms. Gloria Clardy, Mrs. Brenda Bryant Page; extended family and special friends: Colonel (Army, Retired) Boyd Bryant and Mrs. Mary Bryant, Ms. Florine Colvin, Mrs. Charlotte Pennington Crittenden, Mr. McArthur Crittenden, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Gaudreau, Mrs. Helen Jackson Grant, Robbie Lou Gissendanner, Mrs. Portia Griffin, Major General (Army, Retired) and Mrs. Robert Harding, Major General (Army, Retired) William Harmon, Mr. Artez Jiles, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Jolly, Colonel (Army, Retired) and Mrs. John Lackey, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Lucas, Ms. Keelie Maiden and Family, Mrs. Carolyn Matthews McCray, Mrs. Nancy McFarlin, Mrs. Honey McLaughlin, Major General (Army, Retired) and Mrs. Julius Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Pouncy, Agnes Reeves, Annie Lois Harper Thomas, Colonel (Army, Retired) and Mrs. Richard Sheridan, Dr. Milan Simanek, Dr. Charles Kirksey and Mrs. Radka Simankova, Command Sergeant Major (Army, Retired) and Mrs. James Stephenson, and Major General (Army Retired) Charles Thomas; and other nieces, nephews, cousins, family members, and friends. Loving Reflections of Ruby “Those we love don’t go away; they walk besides us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near, so loved, so missed, so very dear, our Ruby.” “In death we love you still. It breaks our hearts to lose you, but you didn’t go alone, for part of us went with you, the day God took you Home.” “Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on, and cherished memories never fade because a loved one’s gone. Those we love can never be more than a thought apart, for as long as there is memory, they’ll live on in our hearts.” Always Love Forevermore! In Loving Memory of Ruby The Magic of a Mother’s Touch There’s magic in a Mother’s touch, and sunshine in her smile. There’s love in everything she does to make our lives worthwhile. We can find both hope and courage just by looking in her eyes. Her laughter is a source of joy, her works are warm and wise. There is a kindness and compassion to be found in her embrace, and we see the light of heaven shining from a Mother’s face. Visitation/Viewing: March 29, 2021, 1-5 PM Loudoun Funeral Chapel 158 Catoctin Circle, SE Leesburg, VA 20152 Phone: 703-777-6000 Burial: March 30, 2021, 3 PM Arlington National Cemetery 1 Memorial Drive Fort Myer, VA 22211 Honorary Pallbearers: Colonel (Army, Retired) Calvin Bryant, Jr. Colonel (Army, Retired) Boyd Bryant Tiffany Ashley Bryant Thurston Lamont Bryant Adrian Bernard Bryant Orson Eero Ilmari Bryant Theron Elijah Bryant Barry Bryant Dr. Milan Simanek Acknowledgements The family of the late Mrs. Ruby Nell Jolly Bryant is very grateful and thankful for the love, thoughts and prayers, condolences, floral arrangements, Memorial Amazing Grace Blanket, Almighty God is Love Garden Stone, and many comforting cards, messages, and phone calls. Lots of Love! We love you all! Thank you very much! ~The Bryant Family

Ruby Nell Bryant

June 9, 1945 - January 24, 2021