I first met her in the fall of 1970 and I was immediately stricken by her mellifluous speaking voice—each word, each syllable pronounced with precision. She reminded me a lot of the famous lead singer, Diana Ross, of the then popular Motown group, The Supremes.
With that indefinable and capricious quality that transcended charisma and style, she had all of us in the palm of her hand from the first day of class. She shattered a preconceived idea held by some people of what African American teachers and educational professionals might be. You see, this was the beginning of racial desegregation of the schools, now over 50 years ago. It's hard to believe, even as I write this article.
She taught middle school language arts and home economics. She knew her subject matter and she knew it thoroughly. She left us on Monday, April 19, 2021. I had the privilege of being her student for two years, of doing my student teaching under her supervision in 1981, in working next door to her as a colleague for a number of years and in developing a lifetime friendship.
We traveled miles together on field trips to Tallahassee, Orlando and twice we chaperoned students on trips to Washington, D.C. She taught several generations of students in White Springs and began her teaching career at Carver High School.
In her classroom, I remember diagramming sentences, learning the eight parts of speech, writing papers, writing plays, writing, writing, always writing.
Among my prized possessions, I have a note she wrote to me as a student, "Don't stop writing. God blessed you with the gift to use words in an effective way to influence others. Remember, "Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Till your good gets better and your better gets best. Your teacher, Dorothy L. Bryant." No matter that I am past sixty, I signed my last birthday card to her in September, "Your friend, Your student." I was always and will always be her student.
She loved junk food and she especially loved Doritos and Snicker Bars. Even after we no longer worked together, there were very few of her birthdays that I didn't go by and visit with her and take her a huge bag of Doritos and a big bag of Snicker Bars. She would always smile and say, "You know what I like."
There have been several educators in my life who influenced me greatly. She influenced me more than anyone. This is a true statement. She was the BEST teacher I ever had, ever.
When I wrote my last book, Black Runs the River, I dedicated the book to her, as a teacher who inspired me to write. When I published each of my books, she was the first person I gifted with a signed copy.
The following poem does aptly describe one with a smile that lit up the world, a professional who taught with enthusiasm and dedication, a valued pillar of our community. Very few individuals are vital and consistently beautiful role models for others. She was that and so much more. She was uniquely unique and our small corner of the world in White Springs was more than blessed by Dorothy Levine Bryant. So to her:
"The Builder" by Unknown
A builder builded a temple.
He wrought it with grace and skill;
Pillars and groins and arches
All fashioned to work his will.
Men said, as they saw its beauty,
'It shall never know decay.
Great is thy skill, O Builder!
Thy fame shall endure for aye.'
A teacher builded a temple
With loving and infinite care,
Planning each arch with patience,
Laying each stone with prayer.
None praised her unceasing efforts.
None knew of her wondrous plan,
For the temple the teacher builded
Was unseen by the eyes of man.
Gone is the builder's temple,
Crumbled into the dust.
Low lies each stately pillar,
Food for consuming rust.
But the temple the teacher builded
Will last while the ages roll,
For that beautiful unseen temple
Was a child's immortal soul.
Our continued prayers and sympathy for the Bryant family and many loved ones including the thousands of students she touched with her own special brand of being "wonderful."
From the Eight Mile Still on the Woodpecker Route north of White Springs, wishing you a day filled with joy, peace and, above all, lots of love and laughter.