The Reverend Robert Bolling Bryant

The Reverend Robert Bolling Bryant, 82, passed away peacefully at home with family on Saturday, June 8th 2024 after a decade long battle with cancer.
Robert “Bo” Bryant lived an exemplary life of distinguished service; to his country, as an officer in the United States Navy; to his parishioners, as a minister in the Episcopal Church; to his students, as a Math and Physics teacher at private schools; and to those that followed his teachings published online. He carried his lifetime of faith into retirement, writing sermons and homilies that can be found on his blog: https://preachingtherevisedcommonlectionary.com/. Bo grew up on the York River and, though not intentional, his life was bookended by time spent in York County, Virginia. He had a happy childhood of summers spent swimming and fishing for crabs and oysters with his siblings and cousins. In high school, he was the star halfback on the football team, scoring two touchdowns in a comeback win that enshrined the York High Falcons as District Champions in 1959, his junior year. He followed his older brother’s path to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. It was here that his Christian faith deepened. He credited it with sustaining him through the rigorous academic and physical demands of life as a midshipman. After graduation, he met and soon married his wife, Patricia Simmons Bryant. He often spoke of love at first sight when, on their adventurous first date, “Patty” took to water skiing with a grace and poise that belied her inexperience. In the United States Navy, Bo attained the rank of Lieutenant and served with distinction throughout his many deployments, including a stint as a military advisor during the Vietnam War. After ten years, Bo left the Navy to better spend time with his three young daughters. For a time he wrote for a magazine on high fidelity stereo systems. He brought this passion for cutting edge technology to other areas of his life, introducing personal computers to Christchurch School in the 1980s, writing his own instructional programs and lending a connoisseur’s opinion to any family member that asked. He attended the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, graduating in 1983. Bo was a modernizing influence within the Church, initially as an Assistant Minister at Trinity Episcopal Church in Towson, MD, where he instituted a special service for young families that featured shorter durations and modern music. He pioneered a community outreach program that reached across the aisle to other Christian denominations. He spoke often of the call to service within the teachings of Jesus, a call he heeded through his extensive volunteer work in every city that he lived. At one of his final parishes, he organized an inner city program where members of the community could speak directly to local officials, city council members and the Chief of Police. He was a strong voice for unity within the Church; work that he continued even into retirement. He spent his last days surrounded by his loving family. He cherished these gatherings, sometimes continuing long hours into the night, with time spent quoting from his favorite movies, talking about music with his four children and son-in-law Randy, eating and drinking well, and even reciting a humorous poem or two, a hobby he took up in retirement. Even unto the end of his life, he made sure to tell his wife Pat, “I love you,” ordering small gifts for her to the house and calling her on the phone from his hospice bed overlooking their backyard pool and the beautiful gardens they tended together. Bo was preceded in death by his parents, Melville and Lillian Bryant, his brother Richard “Dickie” Bryant and sister Sally. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Patricia, who tirelessly cared for him throughout his fight with multiple cancers; his brother, Melville; his four children, Lillian, Elizabeth, Rebecca and Michael, as well as his two beloved granddaughters, Ruby and Lillian Watts. The Bryant family would like to thank the many doctors and surgeons who miraculously and meaningfully prolonged his life, his brilliant oncologist Dr. Flavia Kostov, and Amedisys Hospice Care. The family will receive visitors at Amory Funeral Home from 2-4pm on Saturday, June 29th