Curley Bryant Jr. (affectionately called “Little Curley”) was born November 21, 1980. He was the first born to Curley Bryant Sr. and Lois H. Bryant.

He matriculated through the Cleveland Public School system and graduated from the famed Cleveland School of the Arts, in 1999, as a violin major. He attended Morehouse College, Paine College, and graduated with an Associate Degree, in Aircraft Operations and a minor in Air Traffic Control, from Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology located in Elmhurst, New York.

Curley loved everything there was to know about planes and aeronautics. His dream was to become a first-class airplane pilot for one of the major airlines or an air traffic controller for the Federal Aviation Administration. However, he learned quickly that these dreams would not come to fruition because he had been diagnosed, at birth, with sickle cell anemia. Despite that, Curley learned from his father, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. So Curley decided to work around planes and airports for experience and networking purposes. His first job was at Swissport International, at John F. Kennedy International Airport, in Queens, New York as a Ground Operations Supervisor. Then, Curley worked for Southwest Airlines, at LaGuardia Airport, in Queens, New York as an Operations/Customer Service Supervisor. Curley then shifted his focus to flight dispatch and was hired by Air Wisconsin Airlines, in Appleton, Wisconsin where he first gained his dispatching experience. Curley furthered his experience by dispatching for Kalita Cargo Airlines, in Belleville, Michigan. While working for Kalita Cargo Airlines, there was a volcanic eruption, in an area over Europe, which had to be avoided; and, Curley guided one of the planes, in the midst of the eruption, to safety. Curley then moved on to his dream job, as flight dispatcher, at the corporate office of Southwest Airlines located in Dallas, Texas. Curley once said to his mother, he would “work for free” because of the love he had for dispatch and Southwest Airlines. Curley performed his duties with great pride and devotion. He worked with a body of co-workers who loved him and Curley loved them.

Curley loved music. He had a natural ear for music. He played the piano and organ. Curley played for churches at his colleges in Georgia and never took any compensation for his time. He always said, “the Lord gave me this gift, I don’t need any pay.” He played the organ and piano for his father’s churches. Curley later played as a musician in many of the churches he joined in Wisconsin and Michigan.

Curley was a baptized believer into Christ on March 15, 2020, at Dallas West Church of Christ, in Dallas, Texas. During the pandemic, as an alternative to in-person worship services, Curley started Sunday evening Bible study via Zoom for family, friends and others who wanted to study God’s word. He knew the Word and he lived the Word. His life was centered around our Lord Jesus Christ.

Curley Jr. departed this life on Sunday, February 5, 2023. He was preceded in death by his father, Curley Bryant Sr., his paternal grandparents Logan and Nonnie Bryant, his maternal grandparents James and Ella Mae Hinson and a host of aunts, uncles, and family members.

Curley Jr. leaves to cherish his memory, his loving mother, Lois H. Bryant, his sister, Chrystal Bryant and her husband, Mukesh Jackpaulsingh, his nieces, Giselle Jackpaulsingh and Chloe` Jackpaulsingh. His uncle, Robin [Tanya] Hinson, his aunts Dr. Joyce H. Estes, Faye McQueen, Eunice Hinson, Atty. Juanita Bryant, Louise (Judge A. Dean) Buchanan, Eloise Smith and a host of cousins, friends and colleagues.