[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 180 (Friday, December 11, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO R. KELLY BRYANT, JR.

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. G.K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 11, 2015

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise and ask my Colleagues to join me 
in paying tribute to R. Kelly Bryant, Jr., a friend and constituent who 
passed away on December 6, 2015 at the blessed age of 98 years old. It 
is worth noting that his date of death was the 150th Anniversary of the 
Ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution which 
legally abolished slavery in America.
  Mr. Speaker, Kelly Bryant enjoyed a full life. He graduated from 
Hampton University, with a concentration in accounting. Following 
graduation, Mr. Bryant worked for historic North Carolina Mutual Life 
Insurance Company from the 1940's until his retirement in 1981. His 
true passion, however, was documenting the history of African American 
citizens in the City and County of Durham.
  Mr. Bryant's contribution to the Durham Community is boundless. He 
worked tirelessly in many endeavors, including obtaining a historic 
marker at the site of the Royal Ice Cream sit-in in 1957, saving Geer 
Cemetery (one of Durham's oldest African American burial grounds) and 
the completion of a pedestrian bridge over the Durham Freeway, in order 
to connect black neighborhoods that were separated by the highway. The 
bridge was later named in honor of R. Kelly Bryant, Jr.
  Mr. Bryant believed strongly in preserving Durham's African American 
history. He collected over 2,500 funeral programs, obituaries, and 
birth announcements. His archive is so valuable that the Durham County 
Library currently hosts the R. Kelly Bryant, Jr. Collection as an 
online exhibit.
  In addition to his work as the local historian, Kelly Bryant was a 
leader in his community, serving the Durham Business and Professional 
Chain for 49 years; charter member of the Durham Human Relations 
Commission, served 37 years as a scoutmaster, and was a member of the 
Durham chapter of the NAACP. One of his greatest passions was his 
membership and active participation with the Most Worshipful Prince 
Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and 
Jurisdictions, Inc.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kelly Bryant also devoted his life to historic White 
Rock Baptist Church (founded in 1866) in Durham, North Carolina. He was 
very spiritual in all of his endeavors and embraced the teachings of 
our Heavenly Father. He served as a Church Trustee for 55 long years.
  Mr. Bryant's work did not go unnoticed, he was recognized with many 
awards and honors, including certificate of acknowledgment and 
congratulations for his many activities from the North Carolina House 
of Representatives, NAACP ``Freedom Fund Dinner Award'', Silver Beaver 
Award from the Boy Scouts of America for ``Distinguished Service to 
Boyhood'', the first African American recipient of the Bartlett Durham 
Award, and an appointment as the honorary grand master of the Most 
Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North 
Carolina and Jurisdiction.
  Finally R. Kelly Bryant, Jr. is survived by his son, R. Kelly Bryant, 
III; his daughter, Sandra Artelia Bryant-Yubwannie, of Durham, North 
Carolina; a sister Maggie Bryant (age 100) and five wonderful 
grandchildren, Keith Bryant, Korey Bryant, Mykel Bryant Moore, Yohanna 
Yubwannie and Raevin Bryant. Mr. Bryant was preceded in death by his 
spouse of 69 years, Artelia Melba Tennessee Bryant, who was his co-
worker at North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company and was the 
matriarch of their family. Mrs. Artelia Bryant was the descendant of 
the legendary Darden family of Wilson, North Carolina.
  Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to pay tribute to such an outstanding 
American legend. His legacy will live on for generations.

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