Cherie Aurelia Wells Bryant, 74, of Cleveland, Tn., died on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at the family residence after a courageous fight with breast cancer.
She was the daughter of the late Aurelia F. Wells and Carroll B. Wells of Chattanooga. She was born in Chattanooga, TN on Dec. 11, 1935. She attended O.L.P.H. and Notre Dame High School graduating in 1953. She graduated from the University of Chattanooga with a degree in Elementary Education in 1959 and taught second grade at George R. Stuart Elementary School in Cleveland, until beginning a career as a stay at home mother. After her children left home, She worked with her husband in his dental practice until they retired in 1995. She was a member of the Cleveland-Athens-Cotillion, The Cherokee Garden Club and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Dr. Vernon O. “Pete” Bryant of Cleveland; daughter, Linda Bryant Bartmess of Cleveland; sons, D. Mitchell Bryant and his wife Becky of Riceville, Tn. and Scott A. Bryant and his wife Marla of Jacksonville, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Duncan and Adam Bryant and Ben Ford of Riceville, Tn., Lewis and Ben Bartmess of Cleveland and Madeline, Olivia and Audrey Bryant of Jacksonville, Fla.; sister, Betty Carroll Wells Hudik and her husband John of Chattanooga; mother-in-law, Louella Bryant of Knoxville; sister-in-law, Dottie Sneed Averra and her husband Tom of Knoxville; nephews, John C. Turner and his wife Sherry of Ooltewah and Jesse J. Turner III and his wife Jennifer of Birmingham; nieces, Cindy Turner Rossi and her husband Charlie of St. Louis, Mo., Judy T. Woodard of Sylva, NC and Cherie T. Cravens and her husband Dewayne of Chattanooga; special family members, Jerri S. Bryant of Athens, Tn. and Janie L. Coleman of Cleveland; as well as a host of life-long friends.
A Remembrance of Life Graveside Service will be conducted 4 p.m. Friday, March 19 at Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with Father David Boettner officiating.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the Susan G. Koman Foundation or a charity of choice.
Jim Rush Funeral Homes, North Ocoee Chapel has charge of the arrangements.