Joyce A. Bryant

Joyce Ann Baker Bryant was born April 6th, 1936 in Pritchett / Upshur County, Texas she grew up in Austin, Texas. She was a member and attended services of the Primitive Baptist Church in Florence, Texas. She attended Austin High School & was in the first graduating class of McCallum High School where her interests in gardening and politics began. She was part of the committee which chose the "Knights" as their mascot. While in Austin she worked for Highland Drug & Variety and, later Southwestern Bell as a long distance operator. She also lived in Santa Anna, CA while her husband serving in the Marines, later returning to Austin. Eventually, they moved to Deer Park, Texas in 1966. She was active in Cub Scout pack 268 as Den Mother and Girl Scout Troop 1556 as a Troop Leader. She was also a neighborhood chairmen serving Deer Park for the Area Girl Scout Council. She was also a very proud Deer Park Deer Band, Football, and Twirling Parent. Joyce was a former employee of Deer Park Independent School District and Wingo's Electronics in Deer Park but retired from San Jacinto College - Central, in Pasadena, Texas where she was a Reserve Para-Librarian at the library. She truly loved working with students on a daily basis. She was very active civically, politically, socially in the city of Deer Park. She was a founding member of Deer Park Petal Pushers Garden Club in 1966. She held the office of club president for a record number of years. Her favorite projects were the Bicentennial Rose Garden, Community Brick Walkway & the Gazebo at Dow Park and the Star Garden at the San Jacinto Monument. She organized numerous flower shows throughout the years. In the late 80's she helped to establish a scholarship fund for students at Deer Park High School & Wolters Accelerated High School where she had the privilege of awarding many students scholarships. As a Texas Master Gardener and member of the Harris County Master Gardeners and the Houston Federation of Master Gardeners, she lectured on flower shows and how to administer local projects. She was also very active in the Deer Park Historical Society, Friends of the Library, and local neighborhood chairmen for the March of Dimes, and started a local Red Hat group. She was also active in the local groups for Crocheting and Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery. Politically, she served as a precinct election clerk for over twenty years and was an elected delegate to several Democratic Conventions. She was also an active member of the Harris County Democrats and the Area Five Democrats receiving invitations to several Governors' Inaugural Balls. Joyce was also an avid genealogist who was very proud of her membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution (Jane Long Chapter - Pasadena, TX). She was also a volunteer and advisor with the local Mary James Long Chapter of the Children of the American Revolution (also in Pasadena, TX). Her love of genealogy took to all corners of this country researching her lineage which spanned back to Revolutionary patriots, Republic of Texas soldiers, the Mayflower's Captain Miles Standish and beyond. She frequently made trip to Houston's Clayton Library to enhance her knowledge of her family tree. She was an avid reader, her interest in biographies, intrigue and politics. Joyce is preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Ashia Lawrence and her brother Danny Baker. She is survived by her husband, Robert L. Bryant of Deer Park, son, Sterlin Bryant and wife, Cindy G. of Deer Park, son, Randy Bryant & wife Toni, of Deer Park, and daughter, Cynthia Dawn Bryant of Deer Park; two brothers Joel Baker, Jr. and wife Karen, Stanley baker and wife Kathryn; grandchildren: Stephen Bryant and his wife Alissa, Natalie Bryant, Jonathan Bryant and Nicholas Bryant, Andy Niblack & Jacob Niblack. Funeral Service will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday in the Chapel of Deer Park Funeral Directors. Graveside services will be held 1:00 PM Thursday at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Pritchett, TX. Family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM Tuesday at Deer Park Funeral Directors, 336 E. San Augustine. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Deer Park Petal Pushers Garden Club - Scholarship Fund or Civic Beautification Fund.