Devers Bryant Memorial

Mr. Bryant was born on November 28, 1914. He was the son of the late Henry Bryant and the late Lou Lavonia Howard. There were 13 children in the family, and they all grew up in Sargent. The family moved to Sargent in 1909 to work in Sargent Mills.

Mr. Bryant worked at the mill in Sargent from age 14 to 28. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army in December 1942. Mr. Bryant was an anti-tank gunner for Company B of the 612^th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He departed the states on April 7, 1944, destined for the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater. June 8, 1944, two days after D-Day, he engaged in battle at Normandy on Omaha Beach. From June to December, Mr. Bryant’s Company moved through France and Belgium in pursuit of retreating Germans.

Mr. Bryant was wounded and captured on December 17, 1944, at the Battle of the Bulge. While a prisoner of war, he was held at camps in Limburg, Hammelburg, Nuremburg and Mooseberg, Germany. He was liberated on April 29, 1945.

Mr. Bryant obtained the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, European – African – Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze Battle Stars, WWII Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart.

After returning from the war, Mr. Bryant became a brick mason. He enjoyed square dancing, gardening, vacationing with family in Florida, watching the Atlanta Braves and telling war stories.

He is survived by his daughter, Shirley Turner of Carrollton, GA.; son, Joe Gilley of California; granddaughter, Dana and husband Ron Burchfield of Carrollton; grandson, Lance Ragans of Douglas; sisters, Ovie Bryant Johnson of Sargent, GA., and Lavonia Bryant Richards of Newnan, GA.

His caregivers were Lynn Ashley, Sherry Craft and Melissa Gentry.

Mr. Bryant is predeceased by his wife, Euretha Smith Bryant; brothers and sisters, Eunice Bryant, Tommy Bryant, Ada Ward, Pat Bryant, Fannie Duncan, Della Panell, Olin Bryant, Alton Bryant, Maggie McClendon and Elbert Bryant.

Memorials may be made to :

V.F.W.

8 Club Drive

Newnan, GA 30263

Arrangements were being handled by McKoon Funeral Home, 38 Jackson Street, Newnan, GA., where the family received friends 5-8 pm Tuesday, January 10. Memorial service was at McKoon Funeral Home 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 11^th with Frank Guest officiating. Interment was conducted by Chris Jiles at Sargent Cemetery in Sargent, GA.