Mrs. Elvena (Gainey) Bryant

There are three steps to heaven: Out of self, Into Christ, and into glory. She took the first two steps in life and lived a beautiful life in Christ. Now she has taken the third step where there is no pain, no sorrow and no weeping. Our loss is heaven’s gain.

(M)Elvena Gainey-Reed Bryant was born on February 16, 1916 to the late Thomas and Corine Laurant- Gainey and her adopted father Albert Reed who reared her after the death of both parents.

ELVENA, after 109 years and 6 months of life as we know it, was called to a land more fairer than we can imagine and given her Heavenly Wings on AUGUST 15, 2025. Elvena was one fourteen children. Nine (9) Gainey children and six (6) Reed who preceded her in death.(Doretha Gainey-Chatman; John Gainey; Silas (Jim) Gainey; Norman Gainey; Mahaley Gainey; Louise Gainey-Green; Thomas Gainey and Beatrice Gainey who all preceded her in death and one of 6 Reed children of Hammond, LA—Alfred, Henry, Walter and Ruby who preceded her in death and Sylvia Reed. She was the last survivor, the matriarch of the family. In 1935 she met and married Aaron Dagins Sr (deceased). From that marriage was born one son Aaron Dagins Jr. (who preceded her in death). In 1939 she met and married the love of her life Adolph Bryant Sr. of Silver Creek, MS. From that marriage was born three children: Elnoria, Doretha, and Adolph Bryant Jr. (who preceded her in death). She graduated from Hammond High School and studied Nurse’s Aide in New Orleans, LA.

Elvena united with Quinn Holiness Church in Monticello, MS. She was a faithful member until she moved to Houston, Texas in 1956. She was a faithful member of Booker Street House of Deliverance Church and later united with Faith House of Prayer Holiness Church-Pastor Thomas. She served as Church Mother at both churches. In 2025 she united with Good Samaritan and became their eldest Church Mother at 109 years young. She was affectionately known as “MaVena” by her family and those close to her. She had a giving spirit; a helpful, a generous spirit, and loved God, her children, her family, friends and enemies as well. She never turned anyone away who came to her hungry. Most often shared what little money she had whether you were there, in prison or just in need. She had several paroled to her who had no place to go or stay. She loved to cook. Love to travel up and down I-10 visiting her incarcerated family members as well as those not related.

She was a praying woman who prayed for her family continuously. She studied and read her Bible daily. She loved cooking, gardening, raising rabbits. and repairing automobiles. Her passion was fixing and repairing autos. Whether motors, transmissions, oil changes, flats she could do it all. She was a good mechanic. When she made up her mind to do anything…it was done. She had no problem telling you when you were stepping on her toes. One evil was to bother her pickaninny babies. Nobody could cook lemon cakes like MaVena. Holidays were the time to visit Momma’s house. She laid it out all by herself and every child got a lemon cake. She had a do drop-in house. She enjoyed family gatherings at Aaron’s house every holiday as well as Elnoria’s when she was up to it. Elvena was an encyclopedia of history. She loved to talk about times past. How her family came from France through Canada and on to Louisiana before the Louisiana Purchase. She remembered earning only 75 cents per day as a maid, picking cotton and paid by the pound. How black people were treated even though slavery had been abolished. She was so proud of OBAMA becoming President and VP Kamala Harris. She never thought she would see a black president. Kamala Harris was part of an amazing journey for her. She supported them financially and voted until her demise even if by mail. She loved God, her children, her family, friends and enemies as well. She was a fantastic single mother who reared her children in the admonition of the Lord. She was a Virtuous Woman who cared for her children as well as other children. She sometimes worked two or three jobs a day to insure her children had all they needed. She worked as a maid but after so many years she would tell people “I use to be a maid, I am a domestic engineer now” and required pay not as a maid but as a “domestic engineer. She was a woman kept by God. She was run over across her chest in 1969, hit by 3 different 18 wheelers, ran over by a train and in 1994 at the age of 78 she was diagnosed with colon cancer. She never gave up on her faith and her trust in God. She went back to work for several years and finally decided to retire at the age of 88 because driving had become more difficult and dangerous. All her life MaVena was an achiever and victorious. Even today she is victorious… “O death where is your sting. Grace and Mercy prevails”.

At the tender age of 109 years and 6 months God stooped down and from His garden plucked His Beautiful Rose on August 15, 2025. Peacefully and joyfully she entered into the glorious presence of God.

She leaves to rejoice her journey home: Two daughters: Elnoria Bryant and Doretha Bryant Jacque’t; a total of 52 grandchildren; a total of 47 Great Grandchildren through the 7th generation. The Bryant Families (Sears-Bryants-Green-Loyd); Dagins Families (Dagins’, Thomas’) One adopted son J. Bridges Families; Ronald Brown (NOLA) who became her son in the 1960’s. He cared and nurtured her for many years during her illness; (Deckard;-Browns); Jacque’t Family-(Dallas, Anthony & Synithia) .She shared a special Granny bond with Carlana Mishel Black, grand-daughter and assistant caregiver and Wallace “Boobie “ Sears her grandson whom she loved and cared for from birth - helper in the time of need; Ashlea Guillory her great granddaughter/caregiver and AngElise Jacque’t Evans. The Black Family (Parker–William-Black-Albrow-Guillory); a host of nieces- nephews, (Lavoun Gainey- Smith (Birmingham,AL), Corine Gainey-Johnson (Little Rock, AR), The Green family of Lake Charles) The Reeds of Hammond LA.; The Chatmans of Detroit MI; Gaineys of Shreveport, LA and Minneapolis, MN,. Leon Reed, Albuquerque, NM; Bell Family of IN; Wayne Gainey of Palmdale,CA, Katherine Reed-Mack of Harbour City,CA, Adele Mikell, Sacto CA. as well as others in Canada, California, Phillipines, Hawaii, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, Las Vegas, S. Carolina, New York; Virginia, and many other states; cousins &, friends. In-laws- Jones’ of Fidelity, Armanda Herbert and a loving church family. If we left anyone off please charge it to our head NOT our heart. For we are hurting as we work through this difficult time of pain, sorrow and grief.