Mr. Bryant was a graduate of Central High School and Davidson College, where he served as President of the Davidson Alumni Association, on the Board of Trustees and was inducted into the Davidson College Sports Hall of Fame. He was a Lieutenant in the Army Air Corp during WWII, serving as a cold weather test pilot of B-17s in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Mr. Bryant, along with his father, James R. Bryant, Sr. and his brother, James R. Bryant Jr. owned and operated J M Harry and Bryant Co. as a family business for over 60 years. He was elected president of the National Selected Morticians and served as Chairman of National Foundation of Funeral Service.
During his active years, Mr. Bryant served as president of the United Way, president of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, president of Discovery Place, chairman of the Baptist Children's Home of NC, the board of Mercy Hospital, president of the Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center, president of the Charlotte Country Club, and chairman of the USGA 1972 Men’s Amateur Championship. Mr. Bryant was a charter member of Myers Park Baptist Church where he served as chairman of the Board of Deacons. Special awards included the Civitan Man of the Year Award and the George Williams YMCA Award. Mr. Bryant was instrumental in organizing the first Little League in Charlotte. He served two terms on the Charlotte City Council from 1961-1965. He was a member, and greatly enjoyed the camaraderie of the Colonels Club and the Piedmont Club.
Mr. Bryant had an abiding love of family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, James Robert Bryant Jr.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Frances Vinson Bryant and their daughters, Melissa Bryant and Cameron Icard and her husband, Tom; and his beloved grandchildren, Cameron Graeber, Bryant Graeber, Thomas Icard and Lillian Icard. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Sarah B. Bryant and his nephews, James R. Bryant III and Frank L. Bryant.
The family would like to thank Jim Lawton, Ella Douthit and Patty Johnson for their tireless care.
A service to celebrate the life of Donald Bryant will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at Myers Park Baptist Church. The family will receive friends in Heaton Hall following the service.
Memorials may be made to Myers Park Baptist Church, 1900 Queens Rd., Charlotte, NC 28207-2582 or to Davidson College at PO Box 7174, Davidson, NC 28035-7174.
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