Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 2, 2021 at J. E. Johnson Elementary School Gymnasium for Mrs. Linda Joyce Oatis Bryant, 67, who died Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021 at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. Rev. Jerry Bryant officiated with interment following in Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery.  Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Linda Joyce Bryant was the sixth child born to the late Zullar and Daily Oatis Sr. in Prentis. She received her formal education in Prentiss, graduating from Prentiss High School in 1971. Upon graduating from high school, she entered Alcorn University where she graduated with a B. A. in Business. She later went back to school and attained her Masters of Art in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM).

Mrs. Bryant worked for the Jefferson Davis County School District for many years until she moved from the central office to the classroom. Mrs. Bryant culminated over 30 years with the Jefferson Davis County School District while teaching keyboarding and business classes at Prentiss High School. She retired to spend more time with grandchildren, which did not last long, for, she went back to the classroom, working as a job specialist for a drop-out prevention program, Jobs for Mississippi Graduates (JMG).

She was preceded in death by her son, Terry Bryant.

She is survived by her husband, Lee Bryant; children, Kathy Bryant and Kimberly (Claude) Mckinney; seven grandchildren, Mikel and Syna Stephen; Semadjae and Tery Bryant Jr.; Reylin, Chloe and Phoebe McKinney; brother, Howard Oatis; daugther-in-law, Nakisha Bryant; four brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law and many other relatives and friends.