William Edward Bryant

William “Bill” Edward Bryant was a devout believer as well as a dedicated husband, father, brother, and Deacon. He passed away peacefully on September 6, 2024, after a courageous and sudden battle with lung cancer.

He was born in San Antonio, Texas to Helen Ruth Netherly on February 21, 1953. As a child, he excelled in school, becoming a straight ‘A’ student and earning a full academic scholarship! Along with his bachelors, William earned two master’s degrees: One from the University of Maryland in Management Information Systems (MIS) and the other from Bowie State University in Resource Management. However, his ambitions led him to join the United States Army as a Financial Analyst and later under the occupational field of Medical Logistics. He would serve 15 years before medically retiring under honorable service.

Additionally, William enjoyed a distinguished career of 39 years with the Department of Defense (DoD) as the Director of the Human Capital Management within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (OUSD P&R). He truly relished his time at the Pentagon and maintained friendships with many of his colleagues after his retirement from Federal service in September 2019.

Throughout his career, he spent a significant amount of time overseas where he developed a love for German and Greek foods. He adored the European cuisines so much that he became fluent in German just so that he could order his favorite meals without error! That adoration later expanded to include Mexican cuisine, specifically beef enchiladas!

However, it wasn’t until 1980 that his greatest love (behind the Lord, of course) was revealed; that was the same year he met and married his beloved soulmate and best friend, Wanda Bryant (nee Darden). Over the course of 43 ½ years, God’s favor continued to show up and out in every area of their lives! They were also blessed with two beautiful daughters and a handsome son – all of whom continue to make their father proud.

As a devoted World Traveler, he sought any opportunity to explore the world and took a special liking to cruising – often sailing for 15+ days at a time. He was known for his collection of souvenir baseball caps and magnets as a token of his visit to many destinations. These trips weren’t just about pleasure, but they served as a prime opportunity to expose the Gospel of Jesus Christ to hundreds of new friends in new places!

That said, the best parts of his life were tied directly to his home church, Fresh Manna Worship Center (FMWC) of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Affectionately known as Deacon Bryant, his devotion and passion left a mark on every single person he spoke to and served. He expressed his dedication to the Lord by tirelessly serving those in need, facilitating weekly Bible Studies as well as Friday Night Prayer sessions and availing his skills to anyone who had a need. His smile, calm demeanor, and solution-driven mindset were simply a means to illustrate how truly grateful he was to be a servant in the Kingdom.

That gratefulness carried him through many trials and troubles other the years and brought everlasting peace, even during his time of transition. When he heard the call, he was delighted to be released from the reigns of sickness and fully redeemed in the presence of the Almighty God. Hallelujah!

A visitation for William will be held Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 12:00 PM at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, 1621 Emancipation Hwy, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401.