Dr. Robert M. Bryan

Dr. Bryan was born on April 30, 1923. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Baxter Bryan, Sr. of Elba and his brother, Thomas Baxter Bryan, Jr. of Jasper. He is survived by his wife, Jean, who he met in Tuscaloosa while in his second year of medical school at the University of Alabama. He was married for sixty-seven years. He is also survived by his daughter, Lynn Bryan Briggs (Steve); two sons, Robert, Jr. (Linda) and Dan (Sally); five grandchildren, Alex, Stephen (Lane), and Lacey Briggs, and Heather and Corrie Ann Bryan; and two great grandchildren, John Alexander and Callie Briggs.

Dr. Bryan attended elementary school in Elba and graduated from Elba High School. He received a BS degree from Auburn University and entered the Medical College of Alabama in Tuscaloosa where he was a member of the Phi Chi Medical Fraternity. The Medical College subsequently moved from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham where he graduated in 1946, the first class to graduate from Birmingham. He interned at the Jefferson-Hillman Hospital in Birmingham and did a residency in internal medicine at the Norwood Clinic and Carraway Methodist Hospital. He served in the Navy (1950-1952) during the Korean War where he was stationed at the Severn River Naval Command in Annapolis, Maryland. Subsequent to the Navy, he continued with Post-graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Dr. Bryan practiced medicine as a member of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Norwood Clinic and the Carraway Methodist Hospital. He was a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, the American Medical Society, the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, the Birmingham Academy of Medicine, the Alabama Society of Internists, the American College of Physicians, and served as adjunct faculty at the University of Alabama-Birmingham College of Medicine. He served on the boards of the Carraway Methodist Hospital and the American Cancer Society. In 1996, he received a fifty year certificate from the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. In 1986, the Medical Residents of Carraway Methodist Center established an award entitled the Robert M. Bryan, M.D. Award for Excellence in Teaching in Internal Medicine to honor him for his service and education.

Dr. Bryan was an active member of Canterbury Methodist Church since 1958. He was a member of the Official Board where he served on numerous committees including Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He was a member of the John Wesley Sunday School Class and served on the Board of the Shepherd's Center West, a care facility for adults who require assistance during the day. He was honored by the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind for his leadership and service to their mission. Dr. Bryan was proud of the fact that he had the pleasure of treating several Bishops and a number of Methodist ministers.

After retirement in 1985, Dr. Bryan pursued his interest in farming and forestry. He served as President of the Alabama Forest Owners' Association and the St. Clair County Forestry Planning Committee which won several awards during his tenure.

Throughout his life, he was an avid hunter and fisherman with a particular love for hunting quail and raising bird-dogs. His life was long, rich, and fulfilling.

The family wishes to acknowledge the loving and faithful caregivers, Allison Hines, Debra Turner, Shirley Williams, and Donna Carroll.

There will be a memorial Service for Dr. Bryan on Thursday, August 29,2013 at 11:00 AM at Canterbury Methodist Church, the family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 AM in the Parlor at Canterbury.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Carpenter's Hands, the Canterbury Brown Bag, or the Counseling Fund (Canterbury Methodist Church, 350 Overbrook Road, Birmingham, AL 35213) or the charity of your choice.