Jamilla Fatima Bryant (Abraham/Lewis)
Jamilla Bryant was born to Kalid Abraham and Badia Joseph on the 21st day of August 1925. Her Father was born in Arabia in the town of Dardebwan which is now Jordan Israel. Her father was 30 and her mother 16. Jamilla was born in Seattle, Washington, Providence Hospital. The first few years of her life she traveled all over the United States. Her father died while they were in New York when she was 5 years old. According to Arabian Customs and traditions the Uncle then marries the mother so her Uncle Yameen became her father. Then she welcomed her sister Rhoda and brother Joseph (Joey) and they moved to the Hawaiian Islands. On Dec. 7th, 1941 mother experienced the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese attack on America. It was a day she has never forgotten she read comics to her siblings to quiet them and her family came home with groceris and filled all the sinks, tub, and bottles, jars, bowls, and containers with water because they were told the water might be poisoned in the next few days. Jamilla married Robert H. Lewis in 1943 then they moved to the United States from Hawaii to San Francisco, California. Her first child was Evelyn Jean Lewis born Nov. 24, 1943, then Elaine Jane Lewis was born July 31, 1945, Robert H. Lewis was born Sept. 7, 1947 all born in San Francisco. Her fourth child Martin Joseph was born in Detroit Michigan Jan 28, 1951.
Jamilla divorced Robert Lewis in 1956 for many unpleasant abusive reasons. She married Albert S. Bryant Jan 2, 1958 he had 3 children and two of them lived with her. The children were Priscilla, Alice and Sidney. Jamilla became a mother of 6. She moved back to Portland Oregon for 3 years and moved back and forth to the Bay Area because of working opportunities. Jamilla always made her children her number one priority. Home influence and hospitality was her gifting, there was never coldness in her arms. Living with Albert for many years she divorced him for abusive behavior. Jamilla grew up as a Muslim and Loved God with every being. She allowed her children to go to church in America because she thought it was the American Thing to do. Jamilla started reading the bible on her own. She considered the truth between the Koran and Holy Bible. She believed that Jesus was Lord, died and raised from the dead. She became so knitted with Jesus her life changed; she joined Bethel Baptist Church in Aumsville Oregon. For seventeen years she went to bible studies, church services, conferences, and at home read her bible and meditated on the word day and night. She was a prayer warrior, intercessor and prayed constantly for her family and friends. Her biggest goal was to see all of her children and grandchildren saved. When Jamilla went shopping, to appointments or any outside activity she always approached people with this question. “Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior”. She witnessed and handed out little tracts for souls, her goal was to see everyone worshipping and praising the Lord and joining her someday in heaven. In her later years she had many medical problems with her fee, eyes and heart. She had strokes but she kept exercising and walking sometimes as much as two miles a day.
Jamilla was given an apartment to live in by her son-in-law Darhald and daughter Evelyn. They built this apartment attached to their house they had remodeled for their son Roy and Wendy. Living on this property Jamilla was always around her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Jamilla then moved to Salem and started going to New Harvest Church which she attended up to her home going, She always said to her children “SUNDAY IS MY FAVORITE DAY”. She could fellowship, hear the word of God, sing, praise, and rejoice in the Lord. She then would go home to take a nap and get up read the word and pray for prayer request and her family and friends. There is no exemption spared from death male or female. On July 13th Jamilla had a massive heart attack and she was shicked off to be with her Lord Jesus. This whole past year she shared with her family I feel confident that I must read everything on heaven. I want to know where I am going and what I will be doing. So she purchased books from bookstores and off of the internet with Amazon, on HEAVEN.
For Jamilla old age was not dreary she kept her life active and her heart always had room for those she prayed for. Her grandchildren kept her from growing old. Her outward appearance may resemble old age but the inside resided the strength of her Lord.
Love her but let her go………………………………………
Learning to Let Go
The Serenity Prayer
God Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that he will make all things right
If I surrender to His will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next
TRUST IN THE LORD with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your paths.
Proverbs 3, 5-6
Viewing will be held Saturday July 17, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Weddle Funeral chapel in Stayton, Oregon. Memorial Service will be held Sunday July 18, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at New Harvest Church in Salem, Oregon
Arrangements entrusted to Weddle Funeral Services
