Mary Bryant

BRYANT, Mrs. Mary Louise - Age 75, passed away Sunday, June 22, 2008 at Heritage Manor. Family hour 10AM Saturday, June 28, 2008 at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 4805 N. Saginaw St., with funeral service commencing at 11AM, Pastor Henry L. Fuller, Jr., officiating. Interment Lovedale Memorial Cemetery, G-5175 E. Bristol Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10AM Saturday. Mrs. Bryant will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12Noon-8PM Friday. Mrs. Bryant was the former entrepreneur of the well-known fish market and restaurant, “Fish King” for thirty years. Mrs. Mary Louise Bryant was born October 24, 1932 in Farmersville, Louisiana, one of eleven siblings. She attended the Dallas County High School in Fordyce, Arkansas. In 1951, she moved to Detroit, Michigan and began working at a Deli on Nine Mile Road, where she became the chief cook. During her career, she prepared meals for actors like Raymond Burr, Sammy Davis, Jr., Mickey Rooney and Marilyn Maxwell. In 1964, she moved to Flint, Michigan with her husband Chap Bryant and four children. In 1969, Chap and Mary opened up “Fish King” and served the Flint, Genesee County, and the surrounding areas. Mrs. Bryant’s passion for cooking and serving others was her greatest gift, and she often fed the hungry. She became famous for her homemade hush puppies and sweet potato pies. Her old-fashion southern style cooking was the talk of the town. She was truly a strong and determined woman, and worked very hard to please her customers. Mary Bryant was a trailblazer in owning and running one of the greatest fish markets and restaurants in the state of Michigan. In 1973, she became a member of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Pastor Granville Smith, Jr. She continued to serve her Lord under the current pastor, Dr. Henry L. Fuller, Jr. She was a faithful member of the Nurses Guild, worked with the Kitchen Committee, was past treasurer of Willing Workers and past treasurer of the Missionary Organization. Mrs. Bryant was honored in 2007, at the Great Lakes District Nurses and Wolverine State Nurses Guild. Her favorite scripture is the twenty-third Psalm, and she loved gospel music. Mrs. Bryant also participated in mentoring program for the Flint Community Schools. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star Ruth Chapter No. Six, of which she was previously a Worthy Matron. Mrs. Mary Louise Bryant leaves to cherish and will always be remembered by her youngest son, Mark D. (Julia A.) Bryant of Front Royal, VA; daughter, Urena Sharon Archer of Cincinnati, OH; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lottie Mae Bryant of Flint, Emma Jean Ball, Lillian Bolden, and Dorothy Archer; brothers, Estus (Henry Mae) Archer all of Detroit, MI and Rev. Emmit Archer of Fordyce, AR; devoted niece and nephew, Mary Kathy Atkinson and Mitchell Atkinson, Jr. both of Flint; aunt, Elizabeth Hendricks of Detroit, MI; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mrs. Bryant was preceded in death by her husband, Chap Bryant; daughter, Sharon Archer; sons, Scott Archer and Michael Hendricks who recently passed on April 9, 2008; and stepson, Chap Bryant, Jr.

Mary Bryant

October 24, 1932 - June 22, 2008