Mary Frances Danley Bryant

Mrs. Mary Frances Danley Bryant, 82, of Mount Airy, passed away Monday morning, July 15, 2024, at Rowan Medical Center in Salisbury. Mrs. Bryant was born September 24, 1941, in Surry County, the daughter of the late Harvey Napoleon and Lula May Chilton Danley. Frances graduated from Copeland High School, Guilford College, Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a master’s degree in education. On December 25, 1962, Frances married Thomas Gray Bryant, and together they were a vital part of the Mount Airy community for many years. Mrs. Bryant worked as an instructor of nursing at Surry Community College for 33 years. She loved spending time with her family, traveling, and watching her daughter and grandchildren play sports. Frances was initiated into the Mount Airy Order of the Eastern Star #18 on January 25, 1965. Through the years, she served many stations, including Associate Conductress, Conductress, Associate Matron, and Worthy Matron in 1974, 1988, 1997, and 2009, along with Brother Gray Bryant as Worthy Patron. She also served as Adah for many years, District Deputy Grand Matron (2006-2007), along with Brother Gray Bryant as District Deputy Grand Patron, and Grand Representative to West Virginia (2011-2014). She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Jeffrey Ralston; her grandchildren, Madelynn Castor, Gray Davis, and Bryant Davis; her bonus grandchildren, Jacob Ralston (Allison) and Madi Levite (Jake); her nieces and nephew, Karen and Matthew Sofia, Betty Whitley, and Linda Mosley; many great-nieces and great-nephews; and several great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Bryant was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Gray Bryant; a sister, Frankie May Mosley; and two nephews, Steven Mosley and Michael Whitley. A service of worship and celebration of Frances’ life will be held Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 3:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy, with the Rev. John Kinder officiating. At the conclusion of the service, a “Nightingale Tribute” will be presented by the North Carolina Nurse Honor Guard of the Piedmont and final rites conducted by Mount Airy Order of the Eastern Star #18. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 2:00 until 3:00 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the T. Gray Bryant Memorial Scholarship Fund, Surry Community College Foundation, 630 South Main Street, Dobson, NC 27017.