Tributes

A Rose is another name of beauty and elegance. Its different colors give us a marvelous feeling. Have you ever touched the rose? How smooth and soft it is. Nature created a bag full of beauty in the form of a Rose. It has the power of attracting people with its amazing appearance. The plant itself has a beautiful charm in it. It has a separate vision that inspires everyone. Roses are erect, climbing, or trailing shrubs, the stems of which are usually copiously armed with prickles of various shapes and sizes, commonly called thorns. Roses are the masterpiece of all the flowers as it emits beautiful positive feelings. On February 19,1933, a rose was born to the Late Rev. Joseph Elmo Bryant Senior and the late Bessie Charles Bryant. She was the second child and the first daughter born. Before her, the late Joe Elmo Bryant II was born. After her, her younger brother was born, the late Arrosco Britt Bryant (AB), followed by her younger sister, Bettye Joe Bryant Felder. This rose grew up to be very strong and erect. Her goal was to climb and reach higher heights. She was educated in the public schools of Beaumont Texas, attending the infamous Charlton Pollard Senior High School. She furthered her education by attending Prairie View A and M University and graduated from Texas Southern University earning a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s in Education with a concentration in Reading. Generally, the pink rose indicates love, grace and gratitude. Other interpretations include gentleness, appreciation, joy, thankfulness, and elegance…. In 1951 she married Ural Lawrence Smith. This union produced two lovely daughters. Ms. Wanda Gail Smith(deceased) and Mallinee Iris Portia Smith-Diggs. As the years passed, the stems on this rose grew. She returned to her hometown of Beaumont, Texas to be closer to her family. She began her professional career as a school teacher in Beaumont, Texas at Pipkin Elementary School in 1956. She was employed there for nine years. She established lifelong friendships. The rose has established a strong base in human thoughts and hearts. That's how they mesmerized us……… In 1965 she returned to Houston, Texas. She began working at Houston Independent School District at Clinton Park and Cooley Elementary School. This rose continued to blossom by attending school at the University of Houston, Lamar University in Beaumont as well as the University of Lincoln, Nebraska earning additional certifications. She continued her career as a reading specialist, making tremendous strides for minority children, as well as adults in this area. Ultimately, she was the Assistant Principal of McArthur Elementary School. She later transferred to Lockhart Elementary, closer to home as a reading diagnostician. During her working career, this rose was an active member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. She served as 1st Anti-Basileus, Archonette advisor and sponsor for the Archonettes. This is the teenage girls’ group that is sponsored by the Sorority. She was eager to cultivate and fertilize the impressionable minds of the young girls. She enjoyed teaching etiquette classes. Her crowning joy was to see the same young girls, mature into young ladies, by becoming debutantes sponsored by the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. This rose was multi-talented. Her blooms grew large and wide. She was a church musician for several churches throughout her lifetime, spanning the area of Beaumont and Houston. She enjoyed reading and sewing. After 33 years of service in HISD, and growing thorns through the years of hard work, this rose retired in 1990. Eventually, she and Ural, (her Mighty Oak) moved to the Tadmore Community in East Texas. She was happy during this time for she was near numerous cousins. They were active members of the Simpson Chapel Baptist Church. Together they cultivated their special piece of God’s green land. They became avid farmers. While farming with Ural, this rose experienced some pruning. Many of her life branches were pruned. She experienced the passing of her Dad (Elmo Sen.), Uncle (Clifford), and Aunt (Hazel). They continued to farm, sharing their harvest with friends and family. They were a strong united team until Dads health began to fail. She lost her Mighty Oak in 1993. She returned to her home in Houston. Pruning of this rose continued. Thorns were growing. Wanda Gail, her oldest daughter transitioned in 2010, followed by her brothers, Elmo II, and AB who transitioned in 2014, and 2015 respectively. She lost so many special cousins and friends. The yellow rose of friendship………………… This special Rose did not let life’s conditions stop her. She continued to grow and thrive. She returned to work part time to keep busy, thereby working with her special friend Lillie Mae McIntyre. She attended the Greater St. James Missionary Baptist Church with Wanda Gail. She was very active with this church. She was an avid worker with the Women’s mission group. This rose created longstanding friends here. Especially her two church buddies Dorothy and Mary. Her greatest son was Rev. Melvin Franklin, the pastor of the church, whom she dearly loved as her own. A roses beauty never dies…… The pink rose is the gentlest of roses and relay that message through their grace. April 2016, this rose was moved to Austin, Texas, with her daughter. She was eagerly embraced by her son- in law, her granddaughters, our friends, and the Mt. Olive Church Baptist Church Community of Kerrville, Texas. She enjoyed our get togethers in the backyard, as well as our weekend trips. We traveled to Padre Island in September and in May 2021 the family spent the weekend in Galveston. Texas. She enjoyed the beach. On June 12th this rose gracefully transitioned from earth to our heavenly father at 2:55pm. There was not a word or a sound. She was lovingly surrounded by her daughter and son-in-law, Mallinee Smith-Diggs and Rev. Noah Francis Diggs of Austin, Texas. Others who will cherish are memory are; Two granddaughters, Mrs. Mallonya Gail Francis Anderson (Vincent) of Austin, Texas and Mallaya Jane Francis Diggs of Houston, Texas; one sister, Mrs. Betty Jo Felder (Hollis, deceased); two sister in laws; Francis Bryant of Beaumont, Texas (AB, deceased) and Mildred Smith of Houston, Texas (Roland, deceased); a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Moms greatest joy was the warm smile, embrace and kiss from Mallachi Leslie Paul Anderson, her great grandson.

Tributes

Ammer Jane Bryant Smith

February 19, 1933 - June 12, 2021