Julia (Redding) Bryant

WALLACE — Julia Redding Bryant, 73, Ph.D., R.D., S.F.N.S., daughter of the late Charles McArthur Redding and the late Geneva Jones Redding, departed this life Friday, April 9, 2021.

She was born in Durham, the oldest child and with five siblings: Iris Moore, Jeanette Redding, Helen Redding, Kenneth Charles Redding and Clayton Aubry Redding (Janice).

Julia graduated from Hillside High School in 1965. As an academically-ambitious, young lady she enrolled at Bennett College in Greensboro, where she earned her baccalaureate degree. It was here that she met James Kenneth Bryant, a student and an Army ROTC cadet from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro. On July 5, 1969, they were united in marriage and had been inseparable ever since. They have one son, Dr. James Kenneth Bryant II (Amy); and three grandsons, James Kenneth Bryant III, John Rys Triplett Bryant and Jason Miles Bryant.

Over the years, Julia earned her master’s degree from Kansas State University and her Doctoral Degree from the University of Maryland. Julia’s professional work life includes teaching at the following universities: Kansas State University (KSU), Manhattan, Kansas; Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama; University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (UAB); University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia; and Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia. Additionally, and for 20 years, Julia served as the director of nutrition services in the Hampton City Schools, Hampton, Virginia.

In the year of 2011/2012 Julia Bryant was named the School Division Administrator of the Year for Hampton City Schools in Hampton, Virginia, where she was responsible for 33 production kitchens, four satellite feeding sites and four Subway franchises.

In addition to her duties in the Hampton City School System, she served as president of the Virginia State School Nutrition Association and as a member of the Global Child Nutrition Foundation, where she conducted numerous nutrition workshops for education, agriculture and health service ministers from various countries around the world. Her travels include North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. She served on local, state and national school nutrition association boards as well as industry boards. In 2012, she was invited to the White House to meet with the White House chef on a Michele Obama project to reduce childhood obesity.

Finally, and for some 20 years, she served as the liturgical team leader for the Langley Air Forces Base Chapel Service Programs. Currently, she was serving as the parish council chair for the Transfiguration of Jesus Catholic Church in Wallace.

A public viewing will be held from 3 to 5 p.m., Monday, April 19, at Davis Funeral Home, 901 South 5th. Ave., Wilmington. A rosery service will follow the viewing at 5 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 20, at Transfiguration of Jesus Catholic Church, 510 E. Main St., Wallace. Her final resting place will be in Oleander Memorial Gardens, 306 Bradley Drive, Wilmington.

Services entrusted to Davis Funeral Home, 901 South 5th Avenue, Wilmington, NC  (919) 762-6181 email:   info@davisfuneralhomenc.com

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