Sybil Bryant's Obituary
Sybil La Marr Bradshaw Bryant grew up in Franklin, Virginia, daughter of Henry Elton Bradshaw and Lillian Edwards Bradshaw; she was sister of Dennis Bradshaw. Sybil has now gathered with that first family at heaven’s table. Her lifelong interest in music began with childhood piano lessons. She attended Franklin High School, where she participated in Tri-Hi-Y, Band, and Yearbook staff. She also graced her high school Homecoming Court in style. Sybil earned a Rotary Club scholarship to begin pursuing her B.A. in English at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C., where she acted in a campus production. She was active in the Wesley Foundation, where she met Charles (“Tweed”) Bryant of Yadkinville, North Carolina. Both were first-generation college students.They married in 1959, and lived briefly in California before settling in Memphis. Sybil completed her degree at the University of Memphis, where she minored in journalism. She also took post-baccalaureate courses in Music Education. In Memphis, Sybil was active in St. James United Methodist Church and Germantown United Methodist Church; she sang alto in the choir. For many years “Miss Sybil” was a beloved piano teacher for students of all ages in the greater Memphis area. (Some of her youngest students called her husband “Mr. Sybil.”)Sybil was also a writer. She published an essay in Watch and Clock magazine, and her story “God Is Never Too Busy” appeared in Kindergarten Listen (1986). Her novel The Stolen Voice was published in 2014.She is survived by her husband Charles “Tweed” Bryant, her children Marsha and Barry Bryant, her grandchildren Nicholas Pierce, Matthew Bryant, and Joshua Bryant, her son-in-law Camden Pierce, her daughter-in-law Jennifer Richardson Bryant, and her nieces Lea Bradshaw and Jennifer Bradshaw Rudich. Sybil is also survived by the many students she taught to love music.A celebration of her life will take place at Germantown United Methodist Church on Saturday, July 9, at 11:00 a.m. (2331 South Germantown Rd.)In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Sybil Bryant’s honor to: Greater Memphis Music Teachers , 7275 Eastern Ave., Germantown, TN 38138. Her services have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis TN “Celebrating Life….Behind the Stone Wall”.
What’s your fondest memory of Sybil?
What’s a lesson you learned from Sybil?
Share a story where Sybil's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Sybil you’ll never forget.
How did Sybil make you smile?