Virginia S. Bryant, 82, of Ironton passed away Saturday, May 29, 2010, at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Ky. She was born March 27, 1928, in Ironton, the daughter of the late Arthur Lee and Virgie Dudley Smart. She was a 1945 graduate of Ironton High School and a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Ironton. Virginia was also a local historian, who wrote many books and articles on Lawrence County with a particular passion for the Hanging Rock Iron Furnaces. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Louis Bryant, who passed away Aug. 23, 1980; brothers, John and Robert Smart; and sisters, Margaret Kroeger and Grace Canedo.
Virginia is survived by one daughter, Mary Frances Near of Ironton; one son and daughter-in-law, Lee and Melissa Bryant of Hurricane, W.Va.; six grandchildren, Eric (Justin) Near of Nashville, Tenn., Rachel Near of Columbus, Jessica Near of Athens, Scott (Rachel) Bryant of Hilliard, Aaron Bryant of Hurricane, and Lily Moran of Morgantown, W.Va.; two great-grandchildren, Lili Near of Nashville, Tenn., and Parker Bryant of Hilliard; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Helen Smart of Columbus; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church with Pastor Dennis Strawn officiating. Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church prior to the service. Memorial donations may be made to the Lawrence County Historical Society, 506 South Sixth Street, Ironton, OH 45638 or to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 304 South Fifth Street, Ironton, OH 45638. Arrangements are under the direction of Tracy Brammer Funeral Home.