Barry Coleman Bryant

Barry Coleman Bryant died of complications of Parkinson’s Disease on June 11, 2021 at his home in Parkton, MD.  He had recently turned 80 years old.  He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth (“Beth,” nee Armiger) and children, Margaret Knarr (Dorian), Amy Bryant (Brian), Rebecca Scarborough (John), and David Bryant (Jennifer).  He had 12 loving grandchildren: Ethan, Caroline, Benjamin and Thomas Knarr, Asha and Quin Schneiderman, Austin, Levi and Carmen Scarborough, and Coleman, Lucas, and Edie Bryant; also his brother William (“Bill”) Bryant (Bette).  He was born to Thomas Earl Bryant and Margaret Turner Bryant on April 29, 1941, the youngest of 3 boys. His older brother Thomas died in 2016.  He was born in Jackson, Tennessee, but grew up in Aliceville, Alabama.  After completing 4 years of military service in the Air Force stationed in France, he visited his brother and sister-in-law Bill and Bette Bryant in Baltimore in 1964.  His brother was the pastor of Govans Presbyterian Church, where Beth was a member.  They married in 1965 and Barry stayed the rest of his life in Maryland.   He finished his Bachelor’s degree in English Literature at the University of Maryland, but never stopped saying “Roll Tide.”  Barry and Beth had 5 children, the second, Sarah, died of a heart condition as a baby in 1971. Barry started his career as a salesman, but realized that he wanted to be his own boss.  In 1981 he started Omniform, Inc, currently still operating and run by his son David and son-in-law Dorian.  He was a loving and generous father who loved to take his family on adventurous vacations around the world.  He did not believe in reservations.  He was also an active member of Govans Presbyterian Church, volunteering and heading up projects there for many years. In 1997 he moved from Baltimore City to Parkton, MD, to support Beth’s dream of opening a camp and nature center for children, Woodberry Crossing.  He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2003.  While living, he participated in several clinical trials studying Parkinson’s Disease, and donated his brain for study upon his death.

He was truly beloved for his quick wit, his immense generosity, and his adventurous spirit, if not his taste in music.  

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 am on Saturday July 17 at Woodberry Crossing in Parkton, MD.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to www.woodberrycrossing.org.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barry Coleman Bryant, please visit our floral store.