Mary Ethel Reed
42. MARY ETHEL5 REED (VIOLA4 STEELE, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN3, JOHN JEHU PYLE2, THOMAS1) was born January 23, 1916 in Prescott, Nevada County, Arkansas. She married (1) KENNETH C. BRYANT September 3, 1932 in White Hall, Jefferson County, Arkansas, son of CLAUD BRYANT and BESSIE WILLIAMS. He was born August 18, 1912 in New Edinburg, Cleveland County, Arkansas, and died May 1, 1990 in Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas. She married (2) PERL WINSTON SAMS January 27, 1972 in Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas. He was born April 29, 1906 in Oklahoma, and died January 26, 1990 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas.
Notes for MARY ETHEL REED:
Mary Ethel, Benjamin and Lucinda Ann Steele’s granddaughter, was born in the Steele house in Prescott, Arkansas and lived with her grandparents until just after she started school. She continued living with them off and on until her grandmother Lucinda Ann passed away.
Mary Ethel's mother, Viola Steele Reed, was sick with consumption (tuberculosis) from the time Mary Ethel was born. Benjamin Steele, Mary Ethel's grandfather, sent her mother and father to Carlsbad, New Mexico to seek the treatment that was popular in those days for Viola's illness. However, the treatment was unsuccessful and Viola died in 1918 when Mary Ethel was just two years old.
More About MARY ETHEL REED:
Education: White Hall High School, White Hall, Jefferson County, Arkansas; 1952-1954 Pine Bluff Nursing School.
Occupation: Nurse, Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas
Residence: 2003 Little Elm, Denton County, Texas
Notes for KENNETH C. BRYANT:
Kenneth Bryant had the middle initial "C" but no middle name. The headstone on his grave says that he died on May 1, 1990, but he actually died at about 2:30 a.m. on April 30, 1990.
Obituary May 1, 1990:
Kenneth Bryant
HOT SPRINGS - Kenneth Bryant, 77, of Hot Springs, a retired Pine Bluff businessman and owner of Bryant's D-X Service Stations from 1936 to 1960, died Monday at a local hospital.
Mr. Bryant later developed and managed his real estate holdings until he was overcome by leukemia.
Born August 18, 1912, at New Edinburg, he was a son of the late Claud Lafayette and Bessie Annabelle Williams Bryant.
Survivors include his wife, Edna Morris Bryant of Hot Springs, a son, Kenneth Charles Bryant of Pine Bluff; three daughters, Jean Carol Abbott of Corpus Christi, Texas, Reba Sue Sexton of Irving, Texas, and Beverly Reed Joyce of Pine Bluff; a stepdaughter, Joy L. Jamison of Roanoke; two brothers, Ras H. Bryant of Atlanta; two sisters, Annette Boast of Pine Bluff and Faye E. Maze of Phoenix; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Gross Funeral Home at Hot Springs with the Revs. W.B. Clark and Charles Cozart officiating. Burial will be in Crestview Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Society of America or Pleasant Hill Assembly of God Building Fund.
Pallbearers will be Bill Abbott, Steve Sexton, Jeff Sexton, Laudell Dollar, Lloyd Elder and W.L. Horton.
More About KENNETH C. BRYANT:
Burial: Crestview Cemetery, Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas
Death Cause: Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia (CLL)
High School: White Hall High School, White Hall, Jefferson County, Arkansas
Marriage Notes for MARY REED and KENNETH BRYANT:
REED-BRYANT WEDDING
Miss Mary Ethel Reed and Kenneth Bryant were quietly married at the home of the brides parents at Whitehall. The impressive ceremony was read by Rev. Grady Anderson, pastor of Lee Memorial Baptist church at Whitehall.
Only the families and close friends of the couple were present.
Mr. and Mrs. Bryant were both educated in the Whitehall public school. They will make their home at Whitehall.
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