Jack Golden Bryant

Jack was born on October 10th, 1936, in Taylorsville, MS. He passed away on Tuesday, December 9th, at home surrounded by his family. Jack was preceded in death by his first wife, Lucretia Bryant, to whom he was married for 56 years. He is survived by his adoring wife, Penny Bryant, daughter Andrea and grandson Jax Ott. Jack and Penny blended their families when they married, and he is survived by Penny’s son, Darel (Dawn) and grandchildren Margeaux, Camille and Merrick.

Jack moved around frequently in his younger years due to his father’s job, living in Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana. The family settled in Petal, MS. Jack graduated from Petal High School. He got his geology degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and master’s degree from the University of Tennessee.

Jack’s career began in the early 1960s in New Orleans, LA with Texaco as a paleontologist. He held progressively more responsible geology positions with Texaco and Koch Oil. He retired from Freeport McMoran as Vice President of Offshore Exploration. Jack was well known in the Oil & Gas Community, having worked on one of Freeport’s largest offshore finds, Main Pass Block 299 in the Gulf of Mexico. He was a past president of the New Orleans Geological Society and was elected as an Honorary Life Member in 2002.

Jack was a true Southern gentleman who still carried a handkerchief and a gentleman’s knife. He was a very humble, generous man with an amazing sense of humor. Jack was always very fashionable, having more clothes than his wife and daughter. Jack had many hobbies, he was a voracious reader, usually reading 2 or 3 books at once – the family called him the Human History Channel. He enjoyed hunting and fishing; he held a record at the the King Ranch. He was a long-time Saints season ticket holder. As most New Orleanians do, he had a love/hate relationship with the Saints and attended the 2010 NFC Championship game. He was also a basketball fan, the Celtics being his favorite team – he attended Larry Bird’s highest-scoring game - franchise record of 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks in New Orleans.

Chambord cake – his absolute favorite.

He was a member of The Bienville Club, The Roundtable Club, Metairie Country Club and New Orleans Lawn and Tennis Club. He was a member of Mulholland Methodist Church and frequently attended St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with his wife Penny.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025 from 9AM – 11AM at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Metairie, Mass follows at 11AM. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your favorite charity or the University of Southern Mississippi.