Albert "Brown" Bryars, Jr.

Albert Brown Bryars, Jr., age 92, of Enterprise, passed away Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at his home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at First United Methodist Church Enterprise with Rev. Matt Jordan, Rev. David Morris, Rev. Gary Daniel, and Rev. Billy Luttrell officiating, and Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory directing. Burial with military honors will follow immediately at the Enterprise City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until service time at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church Enterprise. Albert Brown Bryars, Jr. was born June 3, 1930 to Albert Brown Bryars and Clem Glen Warren in Enterprise, Alabama. He was the younger brother of Anne Bryars Black. He grew up in a time with horse-drawn ice wagons, and as a young man he delivered items from his father’s pharmacy, Bryars Warren, by bicycle. His best friend growing up was Hub Bryson. He attended College Street and Enterprise schools. A member of the high school band, he played saxophone and trumpet. He was a member of the band while attending Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now Auburn University. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He served in the Air Force as a radio operator, transmitting Morse code and radio communications as a member of flight crews. He married Jackie Redman Bryars in Gadsden, Alabama in a ceremony and reception at First Baptist Church, July 25, 1959 They began their young married lives in “the country,” updating a farmhouse just north of town. They had a small farm where he raised cattle and pigs and had crops of hay and peanuts. They began a family having 3 children from 1960-1963—Susan, Laura and Bubba. He was a member of the Cattlemen’s Association, past president, active in the farming community, member and past President of The Lions Club, member of the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Unlimited. In 1965 he and Jackie opened Bryars, selling ladies apparel, shoes, dresses, accessories until their retirement in 1998. He was a member of First United Methodist, serving on Trustees, Finance Committees, Building Committees, as an usher, and a member of The Harbourlites Sunday School class as a senior adult. He was part of the development of Southland Broilers, now Wayne Farms. He was a board member and investor as Coffee County Bank came into being on North Main; this bank was later purchased by Synovus. Until 2022 he attended stockholder meetings at The Citizens Bank and enjoyed following their progress. He and Jackie loved all things Auburn as faithful fans and alumni, enjoying game days, tailgating, and becoming friends with those in the seats around them at football, basketball and baseball games. A Lifetime Member of the Auburn Alumnae Association, he and Jackie were also members of the 1856 Society, The Samford Society, and The Foy Society. Mr. Bryars loved nature and forestry and has planted thousands of pine trees and taught his children to use a dibble stick and plant them. He earned the award designation of Treasure Forest for his land and how he managed it in accordance with the Alabama Forestry Planning Committee. Mr. Bryars is survived by his wife Jackie Bryars; two daughters, Susan Russell (Paul) of Enterprise, Laura Harris of Wetumpka; a son Albert Brown Bryars, III (Starla) of Enterprise; grandchildren Joey Russell, Katie Russell Hutto (Alex), Melanie Harris Browning (Jacobe), Will Harris (Brianna), Jonathan Bryars, Jillian Harris (engaged to Brett Parrish), and Lindsey Bryars; great-grandchildren Ridge Harris and Bobbie Hutto. Special thank yous to Dr. Bill Reynolds for managing his care and always making time to talk about Auburn; to Dr. Gary Dobbs, Dr. Charlene Chisholm, and Dr. Tony Dobbs for attention to his eye care and for sharing his love of all things Auburn; to the staff of First Light for their love and care in their home for many years, special ladies who have become a treasured part of their home; to our family-Janet Palmore especially in these last months; to DaySpring Hospice for their skilled team these last days at home with family; to our sister Laura Harris whose nursing knowledge and being home was indispensable to us all in preparing him and us for his homegoing; and to the pastoral team and church family at First United Methodist Church for their visits and prayers and love. Serving as pallbearers will be Joey Russell, Paul Russell, Jonathan Bryars, Harrison Warren, Forrest Warren, Bill Shostrom. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Members of the Harbourlites Sunday School Class. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Albert "Brown" Bryars, Jr., please visit our flower store.