BRYANT, Rev. Dr. Wrenfred Died at 82

BRYANT, Rev. Dr. Wrenfred - Rev. Dr. Wrenfred Bryant went into the presence of the Lord on June 1, 2006, in Halifax with his loving wife of 53 years, Helen (Dyall) Bryant, at his side.

He was born in Verdun, Que., on Saturday, January 12, 1924, a son of the late Sydney Bryant and the late Irene (Burrowes) Bryant. Three brothers, Alfred, Douglas and Clarence, predeceased him, as well as his beloved stepmother, Ernestine (Maynard) Bryant.

He was a loving brother to sisters, Merlyn Bryant, Palm Coast, Fla., and Sylvia Meade (Rev. Eustace Meade), Toronto. He was uncle to nieces, Catherine Meade, Halifax, and Sharon Meade-De Abreu (Gerard De Abreu), Toronto, and great uncle to Bryant and Catherine De Abreu. He is also survived by his godson, Rev. Lennett Anderson. Rev. Dr. Bryant was a graduate of the Ontario Bible College (The Toronto Bible College), where he met his wife.

In 1943 he joined the army, and served in the United Kingdom, Italy, Holland and Northwest Europe. In 1948, he came to Nova Scotia as a Student Minister to serve in Sunnyville and Guysborough County. He returned to Montreal to further his education at the Sir George William College.

In 1961, he returned to Nova Scotia to pastor Lucasville and Emmanuel United Baptist Churches and he was ordained in October of 1962 at Hammonds Plains United Baptist Church. In 1966, he moved to Halifax to pastor at Cornwallis Street United Baptist Church.

He also pastored the Seaview Baptist Church, Africville, until the community disappeared in 1967. Rev. Dr. Bryant served as Moderator of the Halifax County Association (1963-1964) and the African United Baptist Association (1966-1968). He also served as Treasurer of the A.U.B.A. and the Laymen's Council of the A.U.B.A.

In May 1969, he was appointed as an Assistant to the General Secretary of the Atlantic Baptist Convention. In May of 1974, he was elected as the first of four Area Ministers. In 1989, he was elected Vice President of Convention and in 1990 assumed the Presidency.

In June of 1990, Rev. Dr. Bryant moved to Lower Sackville to pastor the Cobequid Road United Baptist Church. He also served as a Padre of Branch Calais 162, Sackville Legion and was later appointed Chaplin, Nova Scotia Command, Royal Canadian Legion.

Rev. Dr. Bryant received numerous local, provincial and national honours including receiving an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Acadia University on May 7, 1995 and received the title "Minister Emeritus" from the Cobequid Road United Baptist Church on April 19, 1998.

Rev. Dr. Bryant was a tireless servant of his community. Some of his contributions include: Board of Directors of Atlantic Baptist Senior Citizen Homes Inc., Brunswick-Cornwallis Pre-School Board (Chairman), Provincial Human Rights Federation of Nova Scotia, Agency Review Committee of the Halifax-Dartmouth Welfare Council, member of Keswick Convention, and founding member of the Black Cultural Society/Centre. Rev. Dr. Bryant will be deeply missed.

Visitation will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with a brief veterans' service taking place at 7 p.m. followed by a brief brotherhood service all on Monday, June 5, and the funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, Rev.

Tracey Grosse and Rev. Lennett Anderson officiating, all in Emmanuel Baptist Church, 633 Pockwock Rd., Upper Hammonds Plains. Donations can be made to Cobequid Road United Baptist Church.

Rev. Bryant served his community well and his loss to us is felt by all. We express our condolences to his wife and family.

As always, Well wishes,

F. Stanley Boyd