Evelyn Bryant-Burkett

Evelyn (Bryant) Burkett was born on February 21, 1935 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and was the fourth of the nine children of James Monroe Bryant and Savillo (Jefferson) Bryant. It was there in Arkadelphia that Evelyn was baptized at an early age and became a member of St. Paul AME Church, participating in youth activities like Sunday school, Choir, and the Allen Christian Endeavors (ACE) League. During her youth, Evelyn attended Peake High School in Arkadelphia and graduated with honors and the title of Salutatorian of her graduating senior class in 1954. She began attending AM&N College in Pine Bluff, the fall of 1954. The former AM&N College is now a part of the University of Arkansas and is referred to as UAPB. As a college student, Evelyn joined the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and continued to be active with the alumni chapter after graduation. In 1958, Evelyn graduated with honors from AM&N and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. Subsequent to this graduation, Evelyn also received a scholarship to pursue studies for a Master’s Degree at the University of Ohio in Athens, Ohio, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Economics with a Minor in Finance. Evelyn then returned to AM&N to teach in the Business Department for several years. Evelyn also taught at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas in the mid 1970’s for 9 years, but returned to Pine Bluff again in 1983 to teach at the University of Arkansas (UAPB). Evelyn reunited with her church, Mt. Pleasant AME and also established a Real Estate Business, (Burkett Realtors), where she worked part time before her permanent retirement from (UAPB). She and her husband were the parents of 2 children, Donley, Jr. and Valerie. Evelyn became a member of Mt. Pleasant AME Church when she first moved her permanent residence to Pine Bluff and was recognized as a Golden Club member recently at the Mt. Pleasant 132nd Anniversary in August 2015 for her lengthy membership and devotion. Teaching was Evelyn’s joy and passion. Evelyn is remembered by her friends and family as intelligent, hard working and caring. She loved to read books, news, magazines and journal articles on economics. Evelyn’s children, her parents and oldest brother, Monroe, predeceased her. She is survived by: (4 sisters and 3 brothers), Leatha Bryant, Thelma (James) Harris; Rosemary (Abraham) Henry; Cora (Walter) Ssengoba-Karatz; Moses (Dorothea) Bryant; Richard (Lillie) Bryant; James (Nora) Bryant; also one aunt, Dora Todd; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Submitted by the Bryant-Burkett Family Funeral services will be held at Mt. Pleasant A. M. E. Church, 1201 N. Magnolia Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Reverend Reginal W. Alexander, Sr., will officiate. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Friday, January 1, 2015 from 12:00 noon until 7:00 p.m. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.