Otela Bryson

Eloise “Otela” Bryson, 94, of Asheville, North Carolina, peacefully departed this life August 25, 2017 at her home with her family by her side.

Visitation and funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at Bryant Grant Funeral Home in Franklin, North Carolina.  The family will receive family and friends one hour prior to the service, from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.  Pastor Steve Reeves will officiate.  A burial will follow at the Old Salem Church in the Cullasaja Community in Franklin where she will be laid to rest with her parents.

Otela was born on March 12, 1923 to Samuel and Olive Bryson.  She attended Franklin High School and later graduated from Cecil’s Business College in Asheville.  She was a sales secretary for 21 years at Olin Mathison Corporation and job trained in the 70’s in New York City where she realized that country girls can survive in the big city.  She was an active member of Central United Methodist Church in Asheville and a volunteer at Memorial Mission Hospital.  She enjoyed aerobics and walked regularly at the local mall.  Friends say she was an exceptional seamstress and taught them how to make their own clothes or sew a hem.  She traveled with friends over the years and found herself in Hawaii, Australia, Asia, Europe, and New Zealand.  She was a sharp dresser, always confident and poised.

She is preceded in death by her parents Samuel and Olive and her five brothers, Mack, Sammy, Wiley, Alton, and Vernon Bryson.

Her beautiful life will forever be cherished and fondly remembered in the lives of her many nieces, nephews, family and friends.  A special thank you to Otela’s care givers at Care Partners Adult Day Program in Asheville for giving her exceptional care, every day, and for treating her like she was one of the family.

Pallbearers for Otela’s service will be nephews Michael Bryson, Doug Thompson, Charlie Ward, Danny Jarvis, Jeff Bryson, Josh Ward, and Joey Corbin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Care Partners Adult Day Program, 68A Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803.

Bryant Grant Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Bryson family. Online condolences may be made at bryantgrantfuneralhome.com.

 Service Information