Charles Edwin Bryant

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Sel Graham on November 26, 2005:

The Memorial Service for Charles Edwin Bryant, Cullum No. 18259, was held at 1100 hours on Saturday, 26 November 2005 at the Seventh and James Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. This balmy (70?) Fall day began with a heavy rain starting before sunrise and lasting until immediately before the service started. After the service, blue skies and sunshine greeted the assembled crowd. First, allow me to explain what I learned about his church, a church in which he was a member for 47 years, a church which uniquely has the "longitude and latitude" in its name so that it can be easily found. It is THE church at Baylor University, a Baptist institution. If Baptists had "cathedrals," this would be a cathedral. Charlie must have held every lay position in this church at one time or another. A plaque at the entrance lists Charlie and Sally as major donors of the stained glass windows. A large (50+) choir, The Baylor Singing Singers, composed of senior citizens, men in tuxes, women in green choir robes, provided the music during the hymns, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Sunrise, and the singing of The Lord's Prayer. The large crowd showed how much Charlie was appreciated in the community. After the service, I visited with Sally. They had their tickets for April's 55th Reunion. I urged her to plan to come. We remember Charlie being in a wheel chair at the more recent reunions, but we did not know the trials and tribulations Charlie went through, always with his trademark wide smile and upbeat manner. Before his stroke 20 years ago, he had cancer. He later developed diabetes, and died of pancreatic cancer. Well Done, Charles Edwin Bryant. We will miss you. Sel

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