Juanita Bryson

Waynesville, Juanita Joyce Messer Bryson, age 88, passed away on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at her home surrounded by her family.

A native of Haywood County, she was a daughter of the late Lawson and Vessie Parton Messer.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Mack Carl Bryson, who died in 2007, two dear sons, Ronnie and Johnnie Mack Bryson; four sisters, Rena Carpenter, Marguerite Fish, and Hilda and Wilma Messer; and five brothers, Lonzie, Hugh, Edgar, Melvin, and Yoder Messer.

Crowned "Miss Tobacco Queen of Haywood County", Juanita was a stellar student, excellent mathematician, and valedictorian of her high school class.  A proud member of White Oak Baptist Church, Juanita enjoyed gardening both vegetables and flowers, preserving, baking and cooking.  She created lovely handicrafts of needlework, embroidery, and crocheting.

Juanita is survived by her two daughters, Cindy Coward, and her husband, Keith, of Clyde and Joyce Tharpe, and her husband, Lee, of Gainesville, Georgia; four sisters-in-law, Nell Messer, Vivian Bryson, Patsy Hoglen, and Susie Richards; and brother-in-law, Duane Bryson.  Also, left to treasure her memory are six grandchildren, Travis (Katya) Tharpe, Cassie (Hart) Smith, Luke Coward, and Lindsey (Byron) Burnette, Josh and Cody Bryson and three great-grandchildren, Landon and Emmerson Burnette and Gabriella Tharpe.

A private graveside service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Parkinson’s Research – Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163 and The Hospice Promise Foundation, 901 Hugh Wallis Road South, Lafayette, LA 70508 (note funds directed to Haywood Hospice & Palliative Care).

The care of Mrs. Bryson has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes.