Rev. Michael Lopez Bryant, 66 of Clinton, Maryland.

Obituary of Michael Lopez Bryant

On Monday February 4, 2019, Michael Lopez Bryant peacefully transitioned to eternal rest.  He was born October 26, 1952 in Clarksville, Tennessee, the second child to Sherrill Lee Bryant and Mary Magdalene Bryant-Wyatt.  He was baptized at a very early age and began his work in the Lord in the area of singing with his brother and sister as The Bryant Singers in churches and on radio in Clarksville, Tennessee.

After graduating from Clarksville High School in 1970, he attended Austin Peay State University in Clarksville. Shortly after he began college, Michael answered the call of his country and joined the United States Army where he served twenty-one years demonstrating the highest level of professionalism, devotion to duty and integrity while performing a range of assignments. Michael's greatest military accomplishment was being professionalized by the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency in Counterintelligence.

After retiring from the military, Michael began his second career as a recruiter, and later the Program Coordinator at the Maryland Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, a program providing at-risk youth with academic, job and life skills training. Although he enjoyed working with the youth, he always desired to return to work in the security field.  God blessed him in 2007 to begin his third career as a Security Specialist at the Department of Commerce where he worked until his untimely death.

From an early age Michael had a love for cars and an entrepreneurial spirit.  This passion led him to start Bryant Five Star Limousine Company, later called Waterloo Limousine. During that time, he also served on the Executive Board of the Maryland Limo Association. Throughout his life he was the proud owner of several classic cars and in recent years enjoyed spending time with his favorite girl "Sasha", his 1966 Buick Gran Sport.

In 1996, while living in Anne Arundel County, Michael met his soulmate Charlezetta at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. They were married on September 3, 2005. Miguel, as she affectionally called him, was her rock during their fourteen-year marriage. In 2009 they relocated to Clinton, Maryland and were blessed to become members of Antioch Baptist Church, where Michael served on the ministerial staff and was a faithful member of the Male Chorus.

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths are the words that inspired him to let the Lord use him. In February 2007, he answered the call to the ministry under the leadership of Reverend Pierre A. German of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Glen Burnie Maryland. In October 2013, he was solemnly and publicly set apart and ordained by Bishop Brent M. Bryant and the Ordaining Council at Redeeming Grace Christian Church, San Antonio, Texas.

Michael will be remembered as a generous and giving person who loved spending time with his grandkids and other family members. He touched the lives of many with his smile, great sense of humor, pleasing personality, and ability to tell a story.  He loved sharing wisdom and knowledge with everyone who came in contact with him.  Always impeccably dressed, he was known to many at the Department of Commerce as "The Mayor".  As a great encourager to many through the years, he will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents Sherrill Lee Bryant and Mary Magdalene Bryant-Wyatt; maternal great-grandfather Lewis O'Neal Sr., maternal grandmother, Virgie Lisenbee O'Neal; paternal grandparents, Roland and Cordelia Bryant; uncles, Bill Bryant, James Bryant, Lewis O'Neal; aunts, Frances Frizzell, Georgia Thomas; niece, Adrian Merriweather.

He leaves to cherish his memories; his wife, Charlezetta; daughters, Codawnia Harper Bryant of Clinton, MD, Montoya Bryant Thinn of Hagerstown, MD; son, Daymon Quinn of Clarksville, TN; stepfather, Rev. George E. Wyatt (Naomi) of Humble, TX; grandchildren, Jayden Thinn, Amira Thinn-Carter, Mekhi Thinn all of Hagerstown, MD; brother, Bishop Brent M. Bryant (Frances) of San Antonio, TX; sister, Apostle Marian Bryant Leake (Apostle Harvey) of Douglasville, GA; aunt, Pastor Dorothy Jett (Thomas) of Cincinnati, OH; uncles, Richard O'Neal of Detroit MI, Ralph O'Neal (Mary) of Kingstree, SC, James O'Neal (Doris) of Cincinnati, OH, Harvey O'Neal of Cincinnati, OH; beloved niece Marquetta "Ting" Bryant Broady (Troy) of Woodlawn, TN; sister-in-law, Avayon Flannigan of Mount Vernon, NY; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and special friends.

Viewing, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, February 21, 2019 in the Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland 20640 and on Friday, February 22, 2019 from 10:00 am, until time of Service, 11:00 am at Antioch Baptist Church, 9107 Pine View Lane, Clinton, Maryland 20735.

Interment, Maryland Veterans Cemetery, 11301 Crain Highway, Cheltenham, Maryland 20623.