Donnell Edward Bryant

Our son, Donnel Edward Bryant was born on September 10, 1981 in Florissant MO at DePaul Hospital. He was the third of our six children; Dawn, David,Denise, Danielle and Michael. His name, Donnell, was taken from the name of the company his dad worked for McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft. His middle name was taken from his great uncle, Edward Selvey, who helped raise his dad in Toledo OH in the 1960’s and 1970’s. On Father’s Day in June 1981, I (Thelma) was water baptized at Grace Church in Maryland Heights. I was 6 months pregnant with Donnell at that time so he was born connected to God in a special way. He had a sensitivity to the things of God as an infant. Reading the Bible to him and listening to praise and worship music would calm him down and he would often go to sleep while he was listening. He had a curiosity about the things of God at an early age; wanting to read the Bible, wanting to go to Heaven and see God, wanting to know how angels fly and on and on. His curiosity made it easy to teach him about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit because he always wanted to know. As he got older, Donnell would often do his own studying and find answers in the Bible for himself. Donnell confessed his faith in Jesus September 1988 when he was 7 years old at Grace Church. He loved attending children’s church. He later engaged with the youth ministry and was a part of the 6 am intercessory prayer team at Abundant Life Fellowship Church in North County. He enjoyed doing street ministry by witnessing to others about Jesus and passing out food and clothing through Larry Rice Ministries. The salvation of those who were lost, hurt and homeless was important to him. Donnell was water baptized in September 2002 when he was 21 years old at Transformation Church on Page Ave (St. Louis City). Donnell had many academic accomplishments beginning at Holy Angels School in Kinloch in the 1980’s. He attended North County Christian School and Kirby Jr. High in the 1990’s. He would go on to graduate from Hazelwood Central High School in June 1999. After high school, Donnell attended Missouri Southern State University (Joplin MO) for two years and then joined the Navy in 2006. He was a medic on a naval hospital ship assigned to bring medical assistance to Haiti after the devastating earthquake in January 2010. He also received a BS degree while in the Navy. After being discharged from the Navy, he enrolled in Lindenwood University and earned a 2nd BS degree in Biology. He studied for and passed his MCAT’s in 2020/2021 and was accepted as a first year medical student at the University of Antigua in May 2021. Donnell said many times that his greatest accomplishment and the joy of his life was the birth of his son, Aiden Jamiere Bryant, born November 1, 2009. He would often say ‘Aiden is the BEST part of my life and the BEST thing I’ve ever done.’ Donnell spent the last weeks of his life as a member of Freedom Point Church in Florissant MO. Donnell experienced the truth of John 8:36; “Whom the son sets free is FREE INDEED.” We give God all the glory that Donnell did not LEAVE this world the way he LIVED in this world, with all the burdens, struggles, striving and ‘WHAT IF’S.’ Donnell LEFT THIS WORLD FREE! HALLELUJAH! We will all miss Donnell in some way in each of our lives. His unique way of seeing, being, that infectious laugh, his crazy conversations about Star Wars, his serious conversations about the Bible, his cooking skills and love of music, his vision and plans for Aiden’s future and for his own future, his heart of compassion for the lost, those hurting, the homeless and his willingness to serve them. Father God, we thank YOU, for the 44 years You allowed him to be on this earth and in our lives, and for those of us that experienced Donnell for decades or for days. Donnell, we are so grateful that you are experiencing a well deserved rest from your labor. , you fought the good fight, you finished the race, you kept the faith and now you are wearing the VICTOR’S CROWN! 2 Timothy 4: 7-8 UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN DONNELL, YOU WILL FOREVER BE A PART OF OUR LIVES BECAUSE YOU ARE ETCHED ON THE TABLETS OF OUR HEARTS! Proverbs 3: 3-4 | Your son, parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends | Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Philippians 1: 3 NLT From Your Loving Family.

Donnell Edward Bryant

September 10, 1981 - October 27, 2025