Mary Catherine Bryant passed away Wednesday, March 18, 2020 in her sleep at Ft. Sanders Hospital in Knoxville, Tenn. She was 92 years old.
Catherine was born on May 7, 1927 in Fincastle to Samuel and Violet Huffman. She was the third oldest of 10 children. In her younger years she was a member of the Fincastle Methodist Church. She graduated from Fincastle High School in 1945.
At the age of 18, she went to work for Woolworth’s Department Store in Roanoke in the toy department and proceeded to gradually move up in position to Section Supervisor, Floor Supervisor, and finally to Personnel Director. After 45 years, she retired in 1990.
In 1951, Catherine married Jacob L. Padgett. They lived in the Buchanan area the entire time they were married until his death. Catherine regularly went to High Bridge Presbyterian Church most of that time. Catherine waited a number of years and married Junior P. Bryant in 2002, and they were married until his death. She regularly went to Mt. Joy Church of the Brethren near Buchanan after her second marriage until she moved to Tennessee.
In June of 2016, Catherine moved to Knoxville, Tenn. to be closer to her son Tony. She regularly went to the New Hope Presbyterian Church near where she lived until she was physically unable to do so.
Catherine is survived by Tony Padgett her son, and family members Roselle Dillon, David and Brenda Huffman, Eleanor and Pete Woolwine, Jimmy Huffman, Brenda Padgett, Caroline Huffman, Betty Devine, Dot and Gary Deacon, Danny Bryant, Judy and Alvin Cox, and Joe Bryant.
Catherine was predeceased by her first husband, Jacob Logwood Padgett, who passed away January 5, 1995 after almost 45 years of marriage. Her second husband, Junior Pete Bryant, passed away July 26, 2008, after 6 years of marriage. She is also predeceased by Samuel and Violet Huffman, her parents; and Charlie Huffman, Billy Huffman, Ruth Spangler, Freddie Huffman and Joanne Falls, her brothers and sisters.
A graveside funeral service was held at High Bridge Presbyterian Church on March 30 at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, anyone that would like to make a donation to the Knoxville Children’s Hospital, in Knoxville, Tenn., would be appreciated.
