Age: 94
Address: Grassy Creek Community, Spruce Pine
Date of Death: Sunday, February 17, 2013
Arrangements: Webb Funeral Home.

Details: Elvira Greenlee Bryant of the Grassy Creek Community of Spruce Pine passed away on Sunday, February 17th in Rose Hill Assisted Living of Marion. A native of Mitchell County she was a daughter of the late Samuel Thomas and Amelia Meares Greenlee. She was predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend of 65 years, Jennings Franklin Bryant, and two of her four loving sisters, Rebecca Boyd of Spruce Pine and Jane Robinson of Boone. Survivors include her son, Jennings Franklin Bryant, Jr. of Marion and his wife Sara, and two daughters, Amelia Duncan and her husband Reid of Spruce Pine, and Sarah Hobart of Spruce Pine, as well as seven grandchildren, Tara, Alison, Jessica, Hayley, Todd, Whitney and Adrienne, and 10 great grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Elizabeth Davenport and Helen Haberneck, both of Spruce Pine.
     She graduated cum laude from Western Carolina University, where she served as president of the Women’s Government as well as member of the student government, Glee Club, and Alpha Phi Sigma Society. Later she received certification in Library Science, studying at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and finishing at Appalachian State University.
She was a teacher of English and history and long-time librarian at Harris High School and Mitchell High School. While on the faculty she also coached debate, sponsored student government, helped organize commencements, directed junior plays, and informally counseled several generations of students. Twice the high school annual was dedicated to her, a fitting testimony to the esteem with which she was held by students. Also honored by her peer teachers, she was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international honorary teachers’ society and the Retired Teachers Association of North Carolina.
     Additional educational and philanthropic contributions were made through her active membership in P.E.O., Chapter T, in Spruce Pine.
     She was a lifetime member of the Grassy Greek Presbyterian Church, where for many years she played the organ and piano and sang in the choir. She was a vital cog in the church’s organizations and participated actively in many other church activities, including The Women of the Church, vacation bible schools, and innumerable and memorable church suppers.
     A local historian, she served as a primary consultant to several scholars who wrote published histories of Mitchell County.
     Graveside services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at the Greenlee Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3:00 until 4:00 p.m.at Grassy Creek Presbyterian Church.
     In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Grassy Creek Presbyterian Church Women of the Church in care of Helen Haberneck at 405 Dale Road, Spruce Pine, NC 28777.
     Webb Funeral Home is assisting the Bryant family and the Reverend Jeff Coffey is officiating.