Debra McCoy Bryant

July 26, 1959 ~ November 13, 2014 (age 55)

Obituary

Debra Bryant was born on July 26, 1959, to the union of Ruldoph and Willie McCoy in Greensboro, NC, where she later attended and graduated from Grimsley High School. She was a life-long believer who embodied what it means to serve God and love people. Debra was active in the church and willing to reach whoever she could whenever she could to help them along. The epitome of a virtuous woman, she married Joel Bryant in 1998 and remained devoted to him throughout their union.

Professionally, Debra spent much of her career in retail, having worked at Macy’s and Belk. Debra, however, was a natural entrepreneur and used her skills accordingly, always profitably, for herself and others. In fact, no one ever left her presence without a present. Debra had the uncanny ability to see opportunity where others didn’t and often used her business as a chance to show love and sow life. Private in-home showings for others to buy gifts became instead times of grace as Debra ministered to unspoken needs.

Debra was also a gifted singer whose voice took her all over America and throughout Europe. While living in New York she broke Nipsy Russell’s record for consecutive appearances at the renowned Baby Grand Club. Debra also won numerous singing contests throughout North Carolina and Georgia. She appeared on NBC’s Your Big Break in 2000 where she performed an electrifying rendition of Patti’s LaBelle New Attitude. To those who knew her Debra’s greatest gift was her desire to serve God. She used this gift to dispense grace to others.

Debra is survived by her husband, Joel Bryant Greensboro, NC, Sister Sharon K. McCoy Greensboro, NC, two brothers Afi G. Osakwe (Rodolphus A. McCoy) Concord, NC; and Marcus T. McCoy Greensboro, NC, Step daughter: Lucy Nicole Kiser, Charlotte NC, Sister-in-Law, Gloria Guy McCoy; Greensboro, NC, Five nephews: Akil Bilal Ali (Dari Pass) Doha, Qatar; Jeremy McCoy (Tiana Curvey-McCoy) Augusta, Georgia; Evan Reid, Galen Reid, and Lewis Carlos McCoy, Greensboro, NC, Three nieces: Tia R. Brown (Tia Noelle Reid) Greensboro, NC; Ka'Arah McCoy and Nia McCoy Pasadena, CA, Three great nieces Zainab Ali, Lena McCoy and Naomi McCoy, One great nephew, Usama Akil Ali. A host of cousins, in-laws, friends, life-long friend and confidant Hoseanna Diggs. She is preceded in death by her parents Rudolph and Willie McCoy, brother Fahim Abdul Kabir (Lewis Arnold McCoy), and nephew Zsarr XeX McCoy. Debra will be greatly missed.