Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 22, 1994 TAG: 9411030027
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: AIMEE RATLIFF SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In April, the Virginia Skyline Girl Scout Council recognized the 82-year-old Bryant and other volunteers with 20 or more years of service. Because of failing health, Bryant couldn't attend, so Girl Scout officials made a special presentation to her at home.
She received an honorary pin that commemorates 45 years of volunteer service for the Virginia Skyline Girl Scout Council - half the life span of the organization.
Although Bryant was not involved with scouting as a girl, she was recruited as a volunteer when her daughter, Janice, was active at the intermediate level of the Girl Scouts. Her son, Warren, who died of cancer when he was 23, was a Boy Scout.
"[The Girl Scouts] always needed people to serve as leaders and on committees, so they called me and asked. I loved working with children and doing community service, but I also wanted to be involved in what my children were interested in," said Bryant.
Bryant joined the Roanoke Girl Scout Council in 1948 and served on many committees and on the board of directors as recording secretary and president. She also was involved with the site committee that secured property near Hanging Rock for Camp Dark Hollow in 1955.
"I never really enjoyed the actual camping, and I felt bad about that, but I always visited the camp sites to make sure everything was running smoothly," Bryant said.
Volunteering for the Girl Scouts was only one endeavor in her life. She devoted time to Central Church of the Brethren, where she has been a member for 62 years and has directed all aspects of the church's Christian education, as well as having been elected as a church board member and a life deacon.
Bryant also worked as a private-duty registered nurse for Lewis-Gale Hospital, where she met and married Walter Melvin Bryant while he was her patient in 1934. This was the same year that she graduated from Daleville Academy, which is now affiliated with Bridgewater College.
Bryant grew up on a working farm in Botetourt County with three sisters and four brothers. She meets two of her sisters and two of her brothers for lunch almost every Sunday.
"I had a close family and lived during a time when people had to work hard together to get things done. I think that the qualities I had that were important to Girl Scouting stemmed from my family life," she said.
In 1960, Bryant was involved in the formation of the Old Dominion Girl Scout Council, which added many counties surrounding Roanoke and Roanoke County. She served as vice president and president for the newly formed council.
Bryant also was instrumental in the consolidation of the Old Dominion and five other councils and many lone troops into the unified Virginia Skyline Girl Scout Council in 1963, which now includes 37 1/3 counties in Virginia and one in West Virginia.
"So many important changes occurred while I served that it was hard to remember them all, but one of the biggest things was when we worked to collect the councils together and being able to watch other members grow in their offices," said Bryant.
Bryant served on the Skyline council's board of directors for 15 years. She held positions as vice president, recording secretary and treasurer as well as working on several committees, including the one that organized the purchase of Lake Catherine, near Buchanan, in 1968.
Bryant's active volunteer service with the Virginia Skyline Girl Scouts Council was completed around 1978, although she has since remained a registered Girl Scout. She is terminally ill, battling cancer, but her interest in scouting has continued through her family. She fostered her interest and love for Girl Scouts in her daughter, Janice Shober, chairwoman of the Service Unit for Southwest Roanoke and Roanoke County as well as a treasurer for the Girl Scout Adventurers.
Bryant's granddaughters, Katherine Shober and Susan Sauerwald, started as Brownies, and are registered Girl Scouts and involved with the Adventurers.
Although Bryant's physical involvement ended many years ago, the memory of her unforgettable contribution still radiates through the halls of the council's Salem office.
"Here is a woman of grace, charm and understanding. She is one who listens carefully to all sides of an issue and then, in her own quiet way, offers a solution that has been well-thought out," said Kate Genaitis, chief executive officer of the Virginia Skyline Council since 1980.
"She is a woman of great capability, energy and foresight. She always knew what was needed for the Girl Scouts as far as resources. Her success came from tenacity and perseverance which was done with great grace," said Genaitis.
by CNB