Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at Crestwood Memorial Chapel for Paul Morgan Bryant, who died Saturday. The Rev. Jerald Adams, former pastor of Paden Baptist Church, will officiate. Crestwood Funeral Home is in charge of services.
Paul was 94 years old at the time of his death. He was a member of Paden Baptist Church for more than 62 years. Paul was a deacon and Sunday School teacher, and also served in other positions. He was a graduate of Glencoe High School, where he was active in school sports. He was awarded first team all-county and honorable mention all-state in his senior year.
Paul attended Alabama School of Trades in East Gadsden, and upon graduation was employed by the U.S. Navy Yard in Charleston, S.C., as a sheet metal design draftsman, during the early years of World War II. He received a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy for his design of a ready-service ammunition locker. Paul joined the Navy in 1944 and was stationed in Japan until the end of the war. Upon discharge from the Navy, Paul became an instructor in sheet metal at the Alabama School of Trades, and a year later became head of his department. He later was employed by Engineering Sales, where he became a field superintendent, which required travel and supervision of construction throughout the Southeast. He then became a project manager for 17 years, until retirement.
Paul enjoyed reading, gardening, fishing and traveling, having visited 46 of the lower 48 states.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, Hazel Alford Bryant; his parents, B.H. Sr. and Ella Pearl Bryant; his sister, Vivian Lurwig; and his brothers, Howard, Aubrey and B.H. Jr. Bryant.
Paul is survived by his son, Robert Emory Bryant; his daughter-in-law, Mary Jean Bryant; his grandson, Jeffrey Paul Bryant; his sister-in-law, Margaret Miller; his brother-in-law, Hoyt Miller; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of service.