Dr. Joe Frank Bryant Obituary (1932 - 2011)

BRYANT, Dr. Joe Frank- age 78 passed away at his residence Monday October 10, 2011. He is preceded in death by his parents Rueben & Minnie Rogers Bryant; sisters, Dora Deane Bryant & Jane Bryant Bledsoe; brother, Dr. William O. Bryant. Survived by wife of 58 years, Pat Bryant of Lebanon; son, Frank A. Bryant of Nashville; daughter, Laura(Kirk) Honeyman of Lebanon; grandchildren, Patricia Bryant Zimmermann of Hermitage, William Joseph Bryant of Lebanon, and Kody Honeyman of Lebanon; brother Charles(Mildred) Bryant of Camden, TN. Dr. Bryant was a member of Lebanon's First United Methodist Church, served 2 years in the Navy as a medical officer/physician. Studied pre-med at U.T Martin & received his MD in General Surgery in 1955 from the University of Tennessee in Memphis. Internship and surgery resident at John Gaston Hospital. He received a fellowship for head and neck surgery at Sloan-Kettering Memorial Hospital in New York City. Dr. Bryant's professional Colleges and Academics included Southeastern Surgical Congress, International College of Surgeons, American Society of Abdominal Surgery, F.A.C.S., TN Medical Association, & Southern Medical Association. He came to Lebanon in 1963 setting up practice at McFarland Hospital. He was also on staff with Nashville Memorial Hospital, Martha Gaston Hospital, Doctors Hospital in Smithville, & was one of 5 doctors who started the original Donelson Hospital. In 1965 he joined a government sponsored program, Project Vietnam, and spent 3 months as a volunteer surgeon in DaNang, South Vietnam. The TN Jaycees voted him as one of Tennessee's Outstanding Young Men for this service. In 1967 he flew to Cape Town, South Africa to see the first heart transplant patient and to meet the surgeon, Dr. Christian Bernard. He has written "A History of U.T. Memphis: John Gaston residents of 1918-1963". Dr. Bryant enjoyed serving as team doctor for many Wilson Co. Schools and Cumberland University. Dr. Joe was a supporter of the Nashville Symphony & Music Department of Cumberland University where serves on the board of trustees. He is owner and president of WJFB Television and Bryant's Broadcasting Inc and a member of the TN Broadcasters Association. Dr. Bryant closed his medical practice and retired on May 31, 2011, 56 years after graduating from medical school. Through the Joe F. Bryant Living Trust a Chapel is in the process of being built on the grounds of Lebanon's First United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held on Wednesday October 12, 2011 11:00-2:00 p.m. & 4:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday October 13, 2011 4:00 -8:00 p.m. in the Partlow Funeral Chapel. Visitation on Friday October 14, 2011 11:00 a.m. until funeral services at 1:00 p.m. in Lebanon's First United Methodist Church. Bro. Donald Owens, Bishop Robert Spain, Bro. Maurice Moore, Bro. Ed Blackburn, Bro. Delwyn Fryer & Bro. Danny Sellars will officiate the services. Interment, Cedar Grove Cemetery. Active pallbearers, Frank Bryant, William Bryant, Kirk Honeyman, Kody Honeyman, Brian Zimmermann, Tommy Knowles, & Eddie Oliver. Honorary pallbearers, special friends & colleagues. Memorials may be made in memory of Dr. Bryant to the Jeanette Rudy School of Nursing, Cumberland University. PARTLOW FUNERAL CHAPEL (615) 444-7007 OBITUARY LINE (615) 444-7700. www.partlowchapel.com