Nelda was born April 21, 1927, in Madison County, Mississippi, a daughter of the late Cleve and Docia Meek.
Sassy, server, sower, survivor. These are a few of the words that come to mind when describing Nelda’s tremendous zest for life. She truly loved her family, loved them hard, and loved them well. Her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren were at the center of all Nelda did, and she was the glue that kept her family together. A sassy little grandmother she was quick to speak her mind or correct a wayward child, and even quicker to comfort a scratch, cut or broken heart.
With her generous heart Nelda welcomed everyone, and she quickly became “Grandma” to all who were blessed to sit at her table. Nelda’s happiest times were cooking for and serving others in any way that she could.
Nelda’s life was one of a sower. Not only a sower of seeds in her beautiful garden, but a sower of seeds of hope and kindness to others. Nelda took pleasure in helping people, and by caring for others she exemplified Christ’s teachings of love, respect and tolerance. Nelda loved the Lord and was a long-time member of McDonald Baptist Church in Lena.
Nelda was a survivor. From the lean times her family experienced as a child, to the loss of her own child and grandchildren, to the medical crises she endured with heart attacks, strokes, and cancer, Nelda remained a fighter through it all.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, William Kenneth “B.K.” Bryant; son, Howard “Slim” Bryant; grandson, Bill Brown; granddaughter, Margaret Lynne Bryant; sisters, Thelma Smith, Minnie Savell, and Lillian Allen; and brothers, Bo Meek, Paul Meek, and Frank Meek.
Survivors include daughter, Clara Brown; son, Tony Bryant (Mitzi); grandchildren, Melissa Adams (Scott), Melanie Cox (David), Erick Brown, Samantha D’Appolonia, Ron Wallace (LeeAnn), K.C. Bryant (Liz), Heidi Mack, Mandy Blair (Tommy), Glenn Bryant (Katrena), and Ken Bryant; 29 great-grandchildren, and 17 great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 10:00am until 12:00pm, Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Funeral services will follow at 12:00pm in the funeral home chapel with interment in Floral Hills Memory Gardens.
