Mary Nelle Bryant

Mary Nelle Bryant, age 98 of Nashville, TN, died on July 9, 2023. She was born on September 2, 1924, in Memphis, TN. At age six weeks she became the adopted daughter of Horace and Aurie Park of Bells, TN. She attended Bells schools and Stephens College in Columbia, MO, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Missouri, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi.

In 1946 she married Billy F. Bryant in Bells. They moved to Nashville and lived there except during Billy’s sabbaticals and fellowships at Princeton University, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Cambridge in England, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of the South at Sewanee, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

She is survived by three children: Robert Park Bryant (Sarah), Dr. James David Bryant (Susan), and Elizabeth Thompson Bryant Murdoch (Mike); five grandchildren: Daniel Bryant (Marisa), Sam Bryant (Stephanie Hagan), Andrew Bryant, Aure Bryant, and Claire Thurmond (Will); and seven great grandchildren: Ella Louise Bryant, Daniel Ronald Bryant, Sylvie Marie Bryant, and Noah James Bryant (born to Daniel and Marisa Bryant); Nathaniel Walkley Hagan-Bryant and Lorenzie June Hagan-Bryant (born to Stephanie Hagan and Sam Bryant); and Anderson Nelle Thurmond (born to Will and Claire Thurmond).

She and Billy were known to their grandchildren and great grandchildren as Geigy and Papa. They were legendary grandparents and great grandparents who showered their grandchildren and great grandchildren with fun, delicious food, and love throughout the years. She was an active member of Calvary United Methodist Church since 1952, serving as President of United Methodist Women, Sunday school teacher, librarian, and Book Circle member.

She was a Life Member of the Vanderbilt Woman’s Club and active in the Vanderbilt Book Club and Bridge Club.

After volunteering in many activities in her children’s schools, she worked for several years in the Nashville Public Schools as secretary at West End Junior High. After Billy’s sabbatical at the University of Cambridge she worked as secretary and then as reference assistant at the Peabody Library of Vanderbilt.

She and Billy greatly enjoyed traveling. They visited every state and attended twenty-two Elderhostel programs in the US and abroad.

Her community activities included delivering for Mobile Meals, tutoring for Adult Literacy, reading for the blind for Nashville public radio, and supporting Billy’s 50 years of teaching at Vanderbilt.

She enjoyed her last years at Richland Place among loving staff and many friends. Her family is deeply grateful for the loving care of Typhanee Fitzgerald, Angelita Stroman, Golden Years Home Care, Alive Hospice, and the staff of the Richland HealthCare Center.

Friends are invited to celebrate her life at a Memorial Service at Calvary United Methodist Church on Saturday, August 19, at 11:30 a.m. There will be visitation in Masters Common at Calvary before the service at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Calvary United Methodist Church General Fund, 3701 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215.