Cornelius H. Bryant, Jr.

Deacon Cornelius (Cornell) Bryant, Jr. of Cincinnati, Ohio passed away Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 2022, at home from the loving arms of his family and entered the presence of His Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ in Columbia, South Carolina. Born June 20, 1948, in Cincinnati Ohio to Cornelius Bryant, Sr. and Mildred Bryant; he was the oldest of eleven children. He accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized. He attended Cincinnati Public Schools, graduated from Central High School, and received an Associate Degree from Southern Ohio College in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; daughter Pagrian Todd; grandsons, William (Tre) Crawford and Cornelius (Man Man) Bryant, III; his siblings, Janet McClinton, Doris Vinegar, Danny Bryant, Wanda Bryant and Dennis Day.

He was married to Rita Mae Waller Bryant on June 28, 1969, while they 

were both attending college. They were married for 52 years. He is survived by the seven children; Chawn Owens, (Victor) Carla Oden, (Paul) Tammie Crawford, (William) Rodney Damon Waller, (Tamesha) Cornelius (Cory) Bryant, III, Pagrian (Paige) Todd and Jeffrey Todd; siblings, Norma Jean Bryant, William Bryant, Brinda Bryant, Teresa Bryant Shorter, Valerie Bryant and Trenton Bryant; sister-in-law,  Rev. Wanda Stallings; 18 grandchildren, Anthony Rayshawn Burton, Caria Burton, Dejuane Rahe, Courtney Davis, Shamari Parrish, Tionna Baker, Natalie Wagner, Alashae Rita Nichelle Crawford, Knirene Crawford, Tammijya Crawford, Skyler Steele, Korie Bryant, Breanna Patrice Bryant, Shavonna Bryant, La’ray Willis, Kayla Marshall, Kya Marshall, Deshaun Marshall, Israel Todd, Eva Todd and Aubreana Todd. 7 great grandchildren, Amaro, Alaina, Takniah, Dejuan, Aubree, Daejeon and Stormee and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Cornell began his career with General Motors Parts Division in Sharonville, Ohio in 1970. He retired from General Motors after 35 years in various GM Plants throughout the US in 2002. In positions of Team Leader, Trainer, Union Representative, Fischer Body, Moraine Truck & Bus which lead him to his destination of Future Product Designs Detroit Michigan when he retired.

Cornelius was ordained a Deacon at the New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio where he served more than 25 years. October 7, 2007, he was appointed as Deacon/Trustee of the Life Renewal Discipleship Church following the ordination of his wife, Rev. Rita Waller Bryant by the Rev. Damon Lynch, Jr. of the New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Cincinnati Ohio. Cornell preformed many missionary trips Honduras, Belize and other destinations to assist in building churches, carrying food and medications to the those in dire need.

His favorite past time was backgammon, dominos and playing cards.

After relocating to Columbia, South Carolina in 2013, he was once again trained as a Deacon at the New Hope Missionary Baptist  Church in Heath Springs, South Carolina where he served for over six years, continuing to be a humble servant seeking God for direction. He put his heart and hands to the work of community ministry in and outside of the four walls of the church.

He was a member Adams Northeast AME Church where he joined the Sons of Allen, serving for 4 years under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Adam China. Presiding Elder Roslyn G. Coleman of the Seventh Episcopal District appointed him to assist with the rebuilding of the Stover Chapel AME Church, which had been closed for over eight years, due to a series of circumstances beyond their control. Cornelius (Cornell) served in various construction phases, to reconstruct and reopen the church March 2019 in addition to Trustee, Sons of Allen, Community Outreach, Worship Congregational, Greeter at Stover Chapel under pastoral leadership of Rev. Teresa Clark where he served faithfully until his death June 5, 2022.
 

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