Harriet Bryant

Harriet Jolene Willard Bryant, 74, of Spartanburg, SC, passed into eternal life on Tuesday, April 7, 2015, surrounded by her family. She was the daughter of the late Joel and Kitty Thompson Willard of Union, South Carolina, where she was born on October 14, 1940. She was the wife for fifty-one years of Jerry Kenneth Bryant. Mrs. Bryant was a retired educator. She taught for 35 years in District 3 schools, Pacolet High School and the Middle School of Pacolet. During her tenure in District 3, she was honored by being chosen Teacher of the Year and having the yearbook dedicated to her. In addition, she was listed in Who's Who Among America's Teachers. She was a graduate of Spartanburg High School and received her BA, MAT, and MED Degrees from Converse College. She had served as class representative for the Class of 1962 for the Converse Alumnae Association. Following her retirement from public school, she was a student teacher supervisor at Converse College for five years. Mrs. Bryant was a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) and had served as the South Carolina state president for that organization from 2000-2002. She was the current president and a member of the GFWC Jubilee Club for over 30 years. She received the Woman of Distinction Award from the General Federation of Women's Clubs of South Carolina in 2012. In 2002, she was a nominee for the Governor's Women of Achievement Award. Additional memberships include being a life member of NEA-retired, SCEA-retired, and past president of the Spartanburg County Education Association-retired. She was also a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Women Educators, Eta Chapter. Mrs. Bryant was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg, where she was a Bible study leader for Circle 9. Prior to joining First Presbyterian Church, she was for many years a member of Roselane Presbyterian Church, where she served as the organist and as an elder. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Laura Bryant Palmer (Jeff); her grandson, Austen Palmer; and her sister, Dr. Malinda Willard. The family will receive friends 10:00-10:45 AM Saturday, April 11, 2015, at Floyd's Pacolet Chapel, 141 Memorial Dr., Pacolet, SC 29372. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 AM, at the Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Joanne Hull and the Rev. Dennis Tessnier. Burial will be in Pacolet Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to the GFWC-SC Endowment Fund, c/o Treasurer, Kathie Walker, 1485 Greenmoor Road, Rock Hill, SC 29732. The family is at the home on Phillips Drive. Floyd's Pacolet Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Harriet Jolene Willard Bryant please visit our Sympathy Store.