Melvin Bryant

Biography

Melvin Smallwood Bryant, 80, of Hillsboro passed away Monday, November 28, 2011 at his residence. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, December 2, 2011, at First Baptist Church in Hillsboro. Burial will be at Ridge Park Cemetery in Hillsboro. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro.

Melvin was born May 22, 1931 in Mexia to Stephen George and Arvilla (Smallwood) Bryant. He graduated from Texas A&M University with the class of 1952 and was a licensed professional engineer until his retirement in 2001. During the Korean War, he served his country in the United States Army. On September 19, 1952 he married June Cooper and they were married for 59 years, 2 months, and 10 days. He was president of the Hillsboro Cemetery Association, Hill County Republican Chairman, and member of First Baptist Church in Hillsboro where he was a long time Adult Sunday School teacher. Melvin loved Hillsboro and always considered it his home.

Preceding him in death were his parents and two daughters, Martha and Rachel.

Survivors include his wife, June Bryant; four children, Alan Bryant and wife, Ann, Mark Bryant and wife, Susie, Denise Snow and husband, Mike, and Matthew Bryant and wife, Mitra; three brothers, Julian Stephen Bryant, Timothy David Bryant, and Dennis Andrew Bryant; fourteen grandchildren, Joshua, Luke, Karis, Katherine, David, Kyle, Joel, Nathan, Merideth, Samantha, Stella, Cora, Sallie, and Asa; nine great-grandchildren, Joanna, Eliana, Olivia, Mayah, Sam, Wyatt, Zoe, Margot, and Elliot; aunt, Amanda Jane Smallwood Thompson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Rd., Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.

Visitation

Thursday December 1, 2011 , 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors

Memorial Service

Friday December 2, 2011 , 1:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church of Hillsboro

Burial

at Ridge Park Cemetery