Hattie Lee Bryant's Obituary
Hattie Lee Edens Bryant was born August 15, 1930 in Okolona, Mississippi to Ed and Velsie Edens. She graduated from Okolona High School, then attended Southwestern At Memphis College (now Rhodes College) from which she graduated in 1952 with a major in Bible. While in college, she was a member and officer of Delta Delta Delta sorority, a Student Counselor and Kappa Alpha Sweetheart, among other activities. She married Aubrey Ray Bryant, also a Southwestern graduate that year, on December 28, 1952. Ray’s jobs with Firestone and then Southeastern Bell Telephone Company, took them in their early marriage to Nashville, Jackson and Knoxville, TN. They then settled in Natchez, MS for almost 40 years. Hattie taught for Head Start in Knoxville, TN and then taught elementary school in the Natchez Adams Public School System. In addition to being devoted parents, Hattie and Ray were also youth group sponsors at First Presbyterian Church in Natchez. Post-retirement, Hattie enjoyed hobbies including needlepoint, square-dancing, playing bridge, and reading extensively. She decided to master the art of story-telling and for years entertained children, community groups and nursing home residents with her Southern and international folk tales told in her melodic Mississippi drawl which could make multiple syllables of one-syllable words. Hattie and Ray moved to Longhorn Village in Austin, TX in 2010 to be nearer to family. After several years in Independent Living at Longhorn, Hattie developed dementia and moved to Skilled Nursing, where she was still visited daily by her devoted husband.She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Jeanne Lewis Ditto; and her brother James Edward Edens. Hattie is survived by her husband of 67 years, Ray Bryant; her eldest daughter, Martha Kay Bryant and husband, Ted Wardlaw, of Austin, TX; her son, Walter Lee Bryant and wife, Rita, of Little Rock, AR; and her youngest daughter, Eden Lynn Bryant and wife, Lisa Davis, of Fischer, TX. She is also survived by four granddaughters: Aleyna Woolliscroft and husband, Matt, and great-grandchild, Madelyn, of Austin, TX; Shelby Ruth Bryant Wardlaw of New York City, NY; Meredith Collins and husband, Chad, of Parker, CO; and Claire Elizabeth Bryant Wardlaw of Brooklyn, NY.The family wishes to express the deepest gratitude to the staff on the Casa Mesquite Skilled Nursing floors at Longhorn Village, Austin, TX for taking such loving care of their beloved wife, mother and grandmother for the past 6 years.To make a memorial gift to the Longhorn Village Resident’s Assistance Fund through the Austin Community Foundation, or please give to the charity of your choice.
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