Eleanor “Ellie” Bryant, a lifelong resident of Bowdon, passed away the morning of Tuesday, February 12, 2013. She was born in Bowdon on November 10, 1932, the youngest of seven children to parents Looney Alfred Bryant and Carrie Drummond Bryant. At four feet tall, she used to say she was “born during the Depression days, when folks were a little short on things.”

Ellie graduated from Bowdon High School in May 1949 and subsequently attended the Harrison-Draughon School of Commerce in Atlanta where she received a Secretariat of Science Certificate in September 1950. She later attended The John Marshall Law School in Atlanta and earned a Bachelor of Law degree followed by a Master of Laws degree.

Ellie spent both her professional and personal lives in service to others and during her lifetime was a continuous and devoted member of the Bowdon First United Methodist Church. She began her working career in Atlanta in 1950, where she was employed at the Georgia Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. She later worked with the Crippled Children’s Unit of the Department of Human Resources at Elks Aidmore Clinic on the Emory University Campus.

She entered the Peace Corps in 1967 and traveled to Clearfield, Utah, where she studied Farsi (Persian), the language of Iran, the country to which she was sent for her initial tour of service. During her time there she lived in Shiraz, where she organized a secretarial class and trained Persian girls whom she later helped with job placement. She subsequently taught commercial subjects at Damavand College in Tehran.

Ellie returned to Bowdon in 1972 and began working at Tanner Memorial Hospital, organizing what ultimately became the Social Services department. She later worked for Equifax Services in Carrollton, which position required her to travel extensively throughout Carroll and Haralson Counties. After her retirement, Ellie continued her work by volunteering in multiple capacities for numerous organizations in Carroll County.

She is survived by her sister, Mrs. Willette Springer of Oakdale, Nebraska; a multitude of nieces and nephews, including nephew Bruce Beckett of Monroe, Georgia; nieces Bonnie Beckett of Winter Park, Florida and Judy Beckett of Atlanta, Georgia; great-niece Alysha Beckett of Atlanta; and many other loved ones, including cherished friend James Coy Bonner of Bowdon.

For countless years Ellie was an integral part of the Bowdon and Carroll County communities. Her always joyful and occasionally piquant spirit will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held in her honor on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Specific time and location to be announced at a later date.

The family welcomes messages of condolence and the sharing of memories at www.rainwaterfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to the Bowdon Area United Christian Ministries or to the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.