Carrol Bryant

BEECH SPRINGS - Carrol Franklin "Calvin" Bryant, 76, died Oct. 3, 2008, at his residence after a sudden illness. He was born March 4, 1932, in Tippah County to Frank Bryant and Lessie Roberson Bryant. He was a resident of Beech Springs since 1958, and a member of Beech Springs Free Will Baptist Church. He was married to Donnie Mackey Bryant for 49 years. He was a graduate of Tippah-Union High School, Northeast Junior College and Mississippi State University. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War on the USS Wiseman and received an honorary discharge. He was employed at the Mississippi Highway Department first district for many years and later retired from the Natchez Trace Parkway with 25 years of service. He won over 500 drag racing trophies and titles as the sole master mechanic, builder and driver of his 1956 Chevrolet. In recent years, he traveled with the North Mississippi Cruisers Car Club to many events and shows and won trophies and titles with his 1969 Camaro. He was currently a member of the Scruggs Racing Team, traveling to the ADRL events throughout the United States.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Jefferson Street Chapel of Pegues Funeral Home with Bro. Sammy Lansdell and Bro. Dennis Kizzire officiating. Burial will be at Beech Springs Cemetery with military honors. W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include three daughters, Ellen Lee of West Point, Carolyn Ramey (Jeff) of Beech Springs and Alison Towery (Joe) of Tupelo; his mother, Lessie Roberson Bryant of Cotton Plant; two sisters, Norma Crumpton (Larry) of New Albany and Donnie Rowland (Lynn) of Saltillo; one brother-in-law, Charlie Ledbetter of New Albany; four grandchildren, Christopher Ramey, Elizabeth Towery, Aly Towery and Shawn Lee; two great-grandchildren, Christopher Lee and April Lee; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Donnie M. Bryant, on April 12, 2004; an infant brother; one sister, Bernice Ledbetter; his father, Frank Bryant; and one brother-in-law, James B. Mackey.

Pallbearers will be Mitchell Scruggs, Tommy Doty, T.A. White, Dan Durham, Jack Martin, Phillip Taylor, Wayne Gentry, Charles Stembridge, James M. Block Haddon, Joe Bailey, Billy Hall, Jimmy Bridges, James Curry and Wayne Roberts.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the North Mississippi Cruisers Car Club and employees of the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. tonight at the funeral home.