Herman Bryan “Bryant” Tedder

Posted on January 14, 2022

Our family has lost a legend. Herman Bryan “Bryant” Tedder left this world to go to his Heavenly home on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. Bryant was born on Oct. 15, 1929, to the late John Herman Sr. and Henri Etta Lanier Tedder, at a quaint Scanlon home in Taylor County. He learned early how to be a hard worker and be resourceful. If you ever had the privilege of working with him, you knew you were going to learn something whether you wanted to or not. He was a faithful member of the Perry Church of God, and it was there he met the love of his life, Betty Holt Tedder. They were married on July 31, 1949, and were blessed to have shared more than 72 years together. During their marriage, they were blessed with three beautiful daughters. Bryant started his early career delivering telegrams for Western Union. He then began working in the grocery business at the Piggly Wiggly with Mr. Brunson, before moving on to A&P, and later working and retiring from Buckeye Cellulose. Bryant was always an avid reader and prided himself on his love of reading and learning. He served as a deacon and taught Sunday School for Perry Church of God for more than 70 years and really loved teaching others about Jesus. In fact, anytime he was in the hospital, and throughout his stay at rehab, he faithfully asked the nurses or CNAs who brought in his tray to pray with him over the meal, three times a day, every day, over the course of the last months of his life. He took that opportunity to hold their hand and 
thank God for them and witness. He loved gardening, was an avid hunter and fisherman and an even better storyteller. He loved telling his children, grandchildren and anyone who would listen, stories from “back in the days.” You would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard tales of his hunting or fishing adventures. He never met a stranger, and loved making connections with others. Bryant also loved to sing, and even sang “Amazing Grace” to his wife, as one of his last acts on this 
Earth. He never shied away from the “right” thing to do, and could almost always give you the biblical principle behind it. He was a special man, loved by his family and friends, and he will be greatly missed. However, his family finds comfort in the fact that Bryant lived his whole life for the celebration he experienced in the arms of his Lord and Savior Monday morning.He is survived by: his wife Betty; daughters and son-in-laws, Betty Sue Tedder Gay (Benny) of Dothan, Ala., Linda Brynett Tedder Gamba of Ocala and Belinda Gail Tedder McCall (Rick) of McIntosh; grandchildren, Deidra Gore Fitzpatrick (Kevin) of Barnesville, Ga., Bryant Goodwin of Live Oak, Ben Gay (Sarah) of Auburn, Ala., Angela Goodwin Jones (Patrick) of Dothan, Ala., Kendall Gay Williford (Marvin) of Florala, Ala., John Andrew “Drew” McCall (Kayla) of Nashville, Ga., Spencer Gay (Emily) of Hoover, Ala. He also is survived by 14 great-grandchildren: Ava Fitzpatrick; Lydia, Naomi and Anna Gay; Eli, Aubrey and Lucas Jones; Heath and Tyler Williford; Karter and Cooper Money; John Brayden and Tucker McCall; and Charlie Gay. He is also survived by two brothers, Jack Tedder (Janice) of Perry and Robert Paul (R.P.) Tedder of Old Town; a sister, Betty Jane Tedder Holton of Perry; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews, who probably all have their own Uncle Bryant story.Bryant was preceded in death by: his parents; brothers, Calvin Buchanan, John (J.H.) Tedder Jr. and Richmond Tedder; and sisters, Wanda Tedder Cash and Violeteen (Tina) Tedder Anderson; and son-in-law, Shunny Goodwin.He left this Earth just as he would have wanted, peacefully, surrounded by those he loved.A celebration of life service will be held today (Friday) at 2 p.m. at the chapel at Joe P. Burns Funeral home. The visitation with family will immediately precede the service, starting at 1 p.m. Internment will immediately follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.