Barbara Jean Bryant

June 22, 1940

March 05, 2024

Barbara (Bobbie) Jean Bryant was born June 22, 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the late Robert Woodruff and Ida Mae Hill. She lived with her mother, aunts, and her grandmother Lillie Rashad Hill, whom she affectionately referred to as momma. She attended Philadelphia Public Schools, and later attended school to be a Nurse's Aide. Her career in Nursing started at Saint John Neuman Nursing home.

While working as a Nurse's Aide, she met and began dating Evon Bryant, and after a brief courtship the two love birds married. Their union produced three sons and a daughter. Barbara always found ways to support her budding family. She was the quintessential babysitter of the 6000 block of Marvine Street for years. She additionally sold Tupperware and Avon to support her family and to garner her some "money on the side". As an Avon sales representative, Barbara shined, winning awards and accolades. She even held a paper route with her beloved husband, delivering the Inquirer during the week and on Sundays. One day while waiting for the bus, the Principal of James Russell Lowell Elementary School, Shirley Z. Sherman, gave Barbara and her son Lee a ride home late one evening. Principal Sherman asked Barbara if she would like to work for the school district, in particular Lowell Elementary, and the rest is history.

Barbara served for years as a noon-time aide, then moving into the classroom as a teacher's assistant. Barbara loved her time serving the children of Lowell Elementary. The children gravitated to her, even calling Mrs. Barbara and eventually mom. At Lowell, she served and cared for all who was under her responsibility.

To family and those close to her, she was known as Bobbie. Bobbie kept an immaculate home; it was known that you could not walk on her beautifully shined floors. She demanded that all shoes came off at the front door, especially during inclement weather.  The floors were so clean that you could eat four-course meal off those hardwood floors. Her home was always clean and there was never any dishes or silverware left in the sink. Holidays were always a treat, especially Easter, when she would purchase specially made large chocolate easter eggs filled with coconut. She enjoyed spending the holidays at her mother's home, as well as her aunt, and sister's home. Additionally, she made sure her children visited their paternal grandfather Howard Bryant along with his sister Louise Jones and her family in West Philadelphia. Those times in West Philly consisted of watching Soul Train and eating KFC. Most importantly, Bobbie loved to dance. All she needed was some music and space to dance. She loved a good time and those same qualities can be found in her children.

Barbara leaves to mourn four children; Kevin J. Bryant (Dinorah), Karen D. Bryant, Dr. Lee E. Bryant (Sharon), and Jerome L. Bryant (Asonta); two sisters; Regina Daniels and Sharon Marant; a special cousin; Jacqueline Tatum; one brother-in-law; Fern Bryant (Tinnie); one sister-in-law Angelene Bryant; eleven grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many beloved friends.