Kelley Jean Bryant

Kelley Jean Bryant entered into her eternal rest peacefully with a SMILE on the morning of October 21, 2019. Kelley was born on January 16, 1975 to Ronald and Minerva Bryant at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, VA.  

Even though she had some health challenges in her early months, Kelley was a happy baby full of energy and joy. Kelley brought life into our two story house throughout her childhood, especially when she was roller skating around, up and down the stairs, and out the door, down the front steps, up the street, down the street and across the street, to her god-mothers house, just like Tootie from the show “The Facts of Life”. (Years later she would declare that she would be able to skate again when she got to heaven).

She began her early childhood education at Southside Daycare and attended Richmond Public Schools for kindergarten and first grade. In 1981, when the Bryant’s moved to Jacksonville, Florida, she attended Duval County Public Schools, graduating from Samuel W. Wolfson High School, in 1993. Kelley loved and excelled at school.  She made many, many friends, several have remained close to her. 

Kelley attended Florida State College, formerly FCCJ, majoring in Business. Later, working in Insurance and Finance, she was an excellent worker, well loved at every job, and again impacting and making friends with her SMILE. 

Kelley gave her life to the Lord at a very young age.  Being diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at twelve years old, the Lord ordered her steps in the likeness of what is stated in Ecclesiastes 9:11, “ ... The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong... But time and chance happens to [us]all.”  Though life may have seemed cruel, Kelley's ministry was that we can SMILE through it all. One of Kelley’s favorite songs says,  “I’ve had many tears and sorrows, I’ve had questions for tomorrow, sometimes I didn’t know right from wrong, but in every situation God gave blessed consolation that my trials only come to make me strong”. Through it all, Kelley came to trust in Jesus, she came to trust in God, she came to depend upon His Word.  

Kelley leaves to celebrate her life, devoted parents,  Bishop Ronald Bryant Sr. and Elder Minerva B. Bryant, loving siblings, Tracy Gray,  Nicole Green (Albert), Ronald Jr. (Terrell), James (Felicia), nieces and nephews, Brandon, Ronald, Madison, Kelsey, and Johaana, beloved grand mother Bishop Minerva Bell, a praying family of great-aunts, great-uncles, aunts, uncles, cousins in abundance includingbeloved cousin/lil brother Sherod and bestie cousin Chanda, god-children including, Tracey Michelle, Kayla, Jamar, AJ, Cyntealia, Paisley, Joy, Steven and many many more, loving god-parents, Elder Janene Jones, Bishop John E Holland, Deacon Richard and Dawn Knight and others, countless adopted brothers and sisters, a devoted god-sister, friend, confidante, Sherrie Holmes, dedicated church pillars, Deacon Steven and Deaconess Rodelin Lewis, Mother Vanessa Hayes, the local and national Mount Sinai Church Family, a host of extended family and friends. 

Remember to put JESUS on your mind, a SMILE on your face, and a PRAISE on your lips.

Sarah L. Carter's Funeral Home Southside is serving the family.

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