Her Life
Shirley Ann Bryant (Peewee) was born in Miami, FL November 12, 1941, to Deacon Robert L Martin and Para Lee Martin (Leonard). She was the eldest of 9 siblings. Shirley was educated in the Dade County public school system where she later returned to work in her later years. She married the love of her life, the late Retired Maj. General Alvin Bryant, M.D. She always told of how, when she first laid eyes on him, she knew that she would marry him one day. Out of this union came five beautiful daughters. They relocated from Goulds, FL to Washington, D.C., in 1966 for Dr. Bryant to pursue his medical degree at Howard University.
Shirley worked as a medical transcriptionist for the then Freedman’s Hospital and would later work with Dr. Melvin Gerald, a colleague of her husband, who would become a life-long friend. After the birth of her 4th grandchild, she decided to establish a family daycare in which she did a tremendous job providing childcare for her grandchildren, the community, family, and friends. She literally helped to raise her 13 grandchildren. She was affectionately known as Grandma, GiGi, and “Ms. Shirley”. After many years of daycare, she returned to Miami and worked in the Dade County school system with her sister, Zella Johnson (aka Popsy).
Shirley enjoyed her life to the fullest! She really enjoyed fellowshipping with her family and friends but would make a stranger feel at home. She was known best for her sense of humor, being a prankster and had a zeal for life and fun. Her love for people was infectious. Although Shirley divorced from the love of her life, she maintained a close loving relationship with her in-laws. Family was everything to her.
Her Ministry
She accepted Christ into her life on December 7th, 1970. She learned the Word of God under the teaching and personal evangelism of Pastor Author and Mary Conward who also became her lifelong friends. Their impact would be significant on her and her daughters as she received so much support and encouragement while going through a divorce and other life struggles. Through the infilling of the Spirit of God, many years of personal study and training, Shirley gained her footing and became a prayer warrior, intercessor, served as Sunday School Teacher and missionary.
She was passionate about her relationship with the Lord! She loved people and demonstrated the love of God by giving of her time, talents, and treasures. After serving many years at the People’s Christian Church of Deliverance, she received her call in the ministry and was ordained an Evangelist. Shirley has inspired many to become missionaries, evangelists and championed others in their walk with God. She would write letters of encouragement, was known for her hospitality, and taking friends into her home in order to provide aid. This she taught to her children-to always give and be a blessing to others. Pastor Shirley aka Busy Bee served diligently under Pastor Robert Conward at Restoration and Praise Fellowship, who later merged with the St. James Church, ACCG located in Washington, DC.
She later returned to school and earned a certificate in Biblical Studies from Thomas Brown Bible College. In 2006, she was ordained as Pastor and birthed Living by Faith Deliverance Ministries in Miami, Florida. Here she started a tent and outreach ministry for the community of Goulds, Florida.
In 2009, due to severe health challenges, her daughters moved her back to the Maryland area, where she assisted as overseer at Faith International Church. She served over 10 years faithfully with Pastor Russell Conward in a leadership role. During this time, she authored a book entitled, “The Glory of a Prayer Life is God Himself”.
In her last year of life, she began the ministry of Miracle Deliverance Ministries with her daughters, where she enjoyed seeing her grandchildren come to worship and learn of the Lord. Her favorite scripture was St. John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Her Legacy
On Tuesday, October 15th, 2019, Pastor Bryant left this earthly dwelling in exchange for an eternal heavenly home with the Lord.
She is survived by her 5 daughters – Anita Bryant, Beverly Goodwin, Vera Renee Teel(William), Claudette Alvina Proctor(Mark), Patrice Scott (DeWayne); 13 grandchildren: Syreeta, LyAvia, Kellen, April, Katrina, Brandon, D’Andre, Marcus, Sherrod, Kavita, Nikko, William and Shirae; 11 great-grandchildren; 4 siblings, Roberta Brown (Charles), Violet Holmes (Toby), Alicia Whighams, and Mamon aka Chuck Martin; sister and brother-in-laws – Retired Colonel Wilbert Bryant (Emily), S. Bobby Bryant (Robin), Larry Bryant, Brenda Bryant, Goldie Bryant, Eugene Bryant, Ann Ashley-Biry, M.D. (Pierre), and Sharon Ashley-Keith, M.D. (Dan); a host of nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind two beloved best friends – Elder Mary Conward and Ola Mae Walker as well as a host of extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Juanita Lane, Cynthia Martin, Zella Johnson, Dorothy Freeman, and nephew, Antonio R. Cortez.
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