Ruby M Bryant

Ruby M. Bryant, 82, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Thursday, April 28, 2011 in a local hospital. As an icon in Cleveland, she was the owner and operator of The Rebel Drive In Restaurant. She and her late husband Emary Bryant served the community in the restaurant business for over forty years. She was a member of Big Spring Baptist Church for 47 years and a long time member of the Dorcas Sunday School Class. Until recently she was the director of the Homebound Ministry at the church. She was a former switchboard operator with South Central Bell for several years and a former substitute teacher at Arnold Elementary School. She was very proud to be a 49er as a graduate of Bradley Central High School Class of 1949. Mrs. Bryant was the daughter of the late William McCann and Esther Williams McCann and was also preceded in death by her husband Emary Bryant and infant son, Randy Allan Bryant; brothers: Harold Wampler, J.B. Wampler and Arthur McCann; sisters: Hazel Ponder and Janice Campbell. She is survived by her three children: Vicki Patterson and husband Alvin, Chip Bryant and wife Darlene and Lori Raper and husband Kevin all of Cleveland; six grandchildren and spouses: Julie and Larry Mitchell, Jason and Jennifer Patterson, Jenifer and Jeremy Cartwright, Rusty Bryant, Neyland Raper and Manning Raper all of Cleveland; great-grandchildren: Zack and Justin Patterson, Makenzi Cartwright, Colin Cartwright, Emilie Bryant and Elliot Bryant all of Cleveland, Dustin Mitchell and Cassie of Texas; siblings: Patsy Edwards, Lillian Moore, Shirley McCann, Don McCann, Herman McCann all of Cleveland and Billie Ownbey of Dalton; a host of family and friends also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2011 at Big Spring Baptist Church with Pastor George Bulson and Patrick Wooden officiating. Interment will follow in Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with Buck Campbell, Jody Campbell, Allan McCann, Johnny Moore, Tim Edwards and Tony Edwards serving as pallbearers. A white dove release ceremony will conclude the service. Her family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Big Spring Baptist Church Roller Skating Ministry, 1415 Hardwick Street, SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 or First Baptist Church Student Ministry, 1275 Stuart Road, Cleveland, TN 37312. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Bryant family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.