Shirley Faye Bryant

On Saturday, February 21, 1948 Gladys and Henry Bonner, Sr. welcomed their baby girl, Shirley Faye into the world.  Raised in Bay City, Shirley attended and was a proud member of Hillard High School’s Class of 1966.

She grew up serving God at the Moore Street Church of Christ in Bay City.  Later in life she joined Mother Zion Missionary Baptist Church where she served on the Usher Board for over 40 years. Her favorite passage was the 23rd number of Psalms.

She married Jerry Bryant, Sr.  God blessed them to parent five children, Jerry, Jr., Gary, Sr., Shelia, Lisa and Terry, Sr. 

A dedicated worker, Shirley worked as a housekeeper supervisor for over 40 years for Matagorda General Hospital as well as Sweeney House Nursing Home. 

She was an amazing checker player who was a winner at heart… if she was not winning, she would do what she had to do to win, even if that meant cheating to get the upper hand. She enjoyed her family and looked forward to spending time with them.  She would often tell the children ghost stories which would make them bundled up in suspense and fear.  Shirley enjoyed cooking and baking.  People raved about her famous caramel and coconut cakes as well as her scrumptious rice custard.  No one could touch her mean fried chicken, especially the drumsticks that she loved so well.  Shirley also looked forward to going trail riding in Sargent.  A good day for her was relaxing and watching The Young and The Restless soap opera, David Letterman or catching a good garage sale.  There are so many fun memories of times spent with her.

On Thursday, April 16, 2020 God rewarded her years of labor by giving her rest.  Those who will often reflect on these and other precious memories include her children, Jerry Bryant, Jr. of Bay City, Shelia Anette Bryant of Van Vleck, and Terry (Kim) Bryant, Sr. of Bay City, and Gary Bryant, Sr. of Bay City, her siblings, Ernestine (Arthur Sr.) James of Bay City, Henry (Doris) Bonner, Jr. of Richmond, and three special sisters-in-love Willie ‘Nip’ Bonner, Betty Moore and Marilyn Bonner all of Bay City.

We can’t help to remember her daughter, Lisa Diana Bryant, her parents, and her siblings, Rosie Lee (Frank Jr.) and Erma Jean Caesar, and Roy Lester Bonner who transitioned before her.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Shirley Faye Bryant, please visit our floral store.