James Garlin Bryant, Jr.

James Garlin Bryant, Jr., better known as Jimmy and Coach, passed away on September 11, 2026 at the age of 86. He was born on July 23, 1940, in Gainesville, Georgia to James Garlin Bryant and Bernice Murphy Bryant.

Jimmy grew up in Athens and graduated from Athens High School and the University of Georgia. At UGA he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity where he served as Athletic Chairman and Vice President. He graduated with a BSEd in Health and Physical Education and a M.A.Ed degree. He also held a Doctorate in Education degree from George Peabody College for Teachers.

His first teaching job was at Clarke Middle School and after one year he moved to Athens High School where he coached JV Football, JV Basketball and Cross Country and Track and Field. He had 3 undefeated basketball seasons and was twice named Region Track Coach of the Year. He also co-founded the Athens Track Club. In 1969 he joined the faculty at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC as a teacher and Intramural Director. He later became head of the Physical Education Majors Program and he developed and directed the degree program in Sport Management. In 1993 he was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Outstanding Teacher Award. He was a member of Kappa Delta Phi and was President of Pi Kappa Phi. He retired from WCU in 1999 and returned to Athens.

A lifelong love of sports led him to serve the communities of both Sylva, NC and Athens where he coached Little League and Senior League Baseball. He served as Vice President and President of the Sylva Little League and was a longtime football official in Western North Carolina. Upon his return to Athens he was an active member of the Monday Morning Quarterback Club and a member of The Athens Touchdown Club. He was inducted into the Athens Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 and served on the

Board of Directors of The Champions Foundation. He was a longtime volunteer at Piedmont Hospital and the accomplishment he was most proud of was his 20+ years and 4300 hours there. He served as a Deacon at First Baptist Church and was a member of Ashford Memorial Methodist Church where he served as a substitute teacher for the Disciples Sunday School class and as a liturgist. Three days a week he could be found on the golf course at either Jennings Mill Country Club or the Georgia Club.

Survivors include his wife, Darrell Davis Bryant, who he was married to for 63 years and sons Bo and his fiancé, Elizabeth Alexander, of Hickory, NC and Brad of Athens, his grandson, Davis, of Hickory and numerous relatives and in-laws.

A celebration of Jimmy’s life will be held at Ashford Memorial Methodist Church on October 7 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Ashford church construction fund, P.O. Box 344, Watkinsville, GA 30677 or on the church website, www.AshfordMemorial.org.

Special thanks go to Dr. Patrick Lucas and the staff of Amedisys Hospice for the excellent care Jimmy received.

Lord and Stephens, West is in charge of arrangements.