“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

Annie Pearl was born Aug. 31, 1934. Her mother was Annie Spencer and father was Reginald Stanley. She was born in the Piney Woods community northeast of what is now Nebraska in Hyde County, North Carolina. Her family moved from Piney Woods to White Plains, then to Engelhard. During her young life, she helped raise her younger seven siblings and cousins, Charlie James, Hilda, Gladys, Janice loma, Joan, Phield, Goldia and Joe Lewis.

She worked in the fields, house cleaning and caring for employers’ children. When she got older, she worked at the crab house and shrimp houses in Manteo and Nags Head beaches to bring needed income into the home.

After graduation from Davis High School in Engelhard, she worked with the late Dr. Henry Liverman. She earned her nursing certification through the mail under the guidance of her employer. Shortly thereafter, she married the late Elder John Early Bryant. From this union four children were born: JoAnn, Caricko “Ricky,” Chuck Gary “Chucky” and Elfredia. John and Annie made their home in the Nebraska community, where she nursed and cared for family, neighbors and friends. Summer months she worked at the cucumber grader. She worked 29 years with Dr. Henry Liverman, MD, 13 years with Hyde County Health Department, four years with Home Health and nine years with Martell’s Restaurant. She used her healing hands and encouraging words to help.

While living in Nebraska community, she was one of the few young women with a driver’s license and was sometimes asked to take expecting mothers to deliver their babies to Belhaven or Washington hospitals, long before there was emergency transportation in Hyde County. This service was often times a part of her life. As a young child, Pearl had a heart to do right and

pleasing to God. Around 27, she asked God to forgive her of her sin and to come into her heart. She now had a higher calling, which gave her a greater sense of purpose and peace. Later, she had a spiritual infilling when she discovered healing and other gifts. As a shy person, she gained boldness she had not had before. That new boldness gave her the confidence to accept her call to preach God’s Word.

During her spiritual development, she was compelled to attend church services, therefore she would walk when transportation was not available. With a flashlight in hand, new believers alongside her would place their youngest in a wagon and on their way to serve the Lord they would go. Other times she would pack believers in a blue pickup truck with a camper over the truck bed and using church chairs for sitting would drive from Engelhard to Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Dunn, Edenton and many other places just to attend service.

Denominations, creed or color was never an issue for Eldress Annie Pearl Bryant. She lived by “where two or three are gathered in his name, there am I in the midst.”

Eldress Annie Pearl Bryant was co-founder and associate minister of Faith Temple Church with Rev. James C. Gant, Pastor, Engelhard, in the 1960s and ’70s. When her husband, the late Elder John E. Bryant, was ordained as minister and Pastor over churches in Portsmouth, Engelhard, Swan Quarter and Bath, she served as First Lady. She continued to carry on their ministry every third Sunday at Cross Creek Nursing Facility, Swan Quarter. She taught Bible class and prayer every Thursday night in Mattamuskeet Village. She served as President of Interceding Prayer in the Washington-Norfolk District Assembly Disciples of Christ and Associate Minister in Mount Pilgrim Church of Christ, Engelhard. Every other Monday, she delivered meals on wheels to the shut-ins in the Hyde County area. She enjoyed reading, learning new things and spending time with her family.

Eldress Annie Pearl Bryant leaves to cherish her memory: JoAnn McCullough (Willie Jr.), Washington, Caricko, of the home, Chuck Gary (Vanessa), of Manteo, Elfredia Bryant, of Washington; brothers and sisters, Charlie James, Hilda, Gladys, Janice loma, Joan, Phil, Goldie, and Joe Lewis, Rodney, Karen and Tyrone (Tyrone preceded her in death); Uncle Charlie Lee Spencer, Brooklyn, New York; Aunt Everlener Spencer Wilson, of Portsmouth, Virginia, and Great Aunt Magnolia Spencer Bryant, of Tarboro; stepmother, Elizabeth Stanley, of Jamaica, Queens, New York.