Elizabeth Ann (McKinley) Bryson

Ann Bryson was born Elizabeth Ann McKinley to Gladys Day McKinley and Lowell McKinley at the home of her maternal grandmother in Grassy Creek, Kentucky on November 4, 1931. During her early childhood, the family moved often. Her father operated heavy earth-moving machinery involved in highway construction and the mining industry. Before Ann was old enough to attend school, she had already lived in various places in Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, and the Washington D.C. area. When Ann was 12 years old, the family moved to a farm near Siloam, Georgia. As a high school student, Ann entered a statewide typing competition and was declared to be the second best typist in the state. After graduating from Siloam High School, Ann attended college at Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville.

At the beginning of the 1950s, Ann secured employment with the U.S. Army as a civilian clerical worker. While working in North Carolina, Ann entered and won a beauty pageant winning the title of Miss Flame at Fort Bragg. After returning to Georgia in the mid-1950s, Ann continued doing clerical work for the State of Georgia Welfare Department.

In 1959, Ann married Thomas Brown Bryson who was also from Siloam. Thomas served in the U.S. Army in the Second World War before graduating from the University of Georgia. After working in advertising, Thomas settled on a career in the insurance industry which required the newly married couple to relocate to Athens, Georgia. When their son Andrew was born in 1961, Ann retired from clerical work and became a stay-at-home mother.

After celebrating 16 years of being happily married Ann’s husband Thomas was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 1975 when their son Andrew was 13 years old. Ann was always a devoted mother, but following the untimely death of her husband, she became totally committed to raising Andrew.

Later in life, Ann returned to the work force. She did clerical work for Louisiana Pacific. Then she worked in retail furniture sales at Rhodes Furniture and Badcock Furniture. Ann was a resident of Clarke County, Georgia for more than sixty years.

In her teen years, Ann loved to write stories and dreamed of one day writing a novel. That dream continued into her later years. Ann successfully completed the first draft of a mystery novel and was working on revising it when her eyesight began to fail. Unfortunately, Ann passed away before cataract surgery to restore her vision could be completed.

The McKinley family has always had a love of music. There was nothing Ann enjoyed more than the times when the family would gather together and sing to the rhythm of guitars played by her two brothers.

Ann leaves behind her son, Andrew Bryson, and her brothers, Tom McKinley and John McKinley.

Ann Bryson was an unforgettable person who impressed those she met with her charm and warmth. For those of us who loved her, she will remain forever in our hearts.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville, GA, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com