Eva Harrison

Eva Mae was born to Odell and Kathlee Harrison in October of 1937. She was the youngest of the four siblings, following her sister, Lola Faye and Brothers, Sonny and Bobby Harrison.

The sisters spent their youth working in the family café while the brothers served in the Armed forces. It was while working in the Café that she would meet and marry her husband, Henry Hughes Bryant in 1951. Their union would go on to produce 8 children: James Earl Bryant, Scheryl Ann Bryant, Arbyl Louis Bryant, Anthony Charles Bryant, Antoinette Bryant, twins Gail Marie Bryant & Dale Ray Bryant, and the baby of the bunch Sheila Bryant Hill.

Eva eventually made a new life for herself and her children in the summer of 1967 when she joined her sister and brothers in California, at the conclusion of her marriage. Here is where she began her career as an RN at Central Plaza Convalescent Home, in Compton, CA. While working as a nurse and part time at a family friend's clothing store, she discovered a love for cosmetology and decided to become a licensed beautician.

Eva had a passion for helping people in her community, and she never met a stranger who she didn't see as family. She always told her children "You never know how the lord might test you, so be kind to everyone, because it could be the almighty in disguise." She would never let anyone go hungry, not even an animal, if she could help it. She loved making herself useful, or as she would put it, "letting god work through her".

Eva enjoyed several personal hobbies throughout her lifetime, like fishing, crocheting, hosting, and playing cards or dominos with her family and friends. Along with volunteering in her community, she enjoyed playing bingo or planning trips to Las Vegas with her social club VFW.

Las Vegas held a special place in her heart, as it was the place where she'd won the jackpot that would allow her to purchase her first home and car for herself and her now 9 kids, as she had been blessed with a baby girl Latasha Hilt in the winter of 1981. By this time, Eva was already a grandmother of 3, with her first grandson, Lamont "Bam" Sanford; granddaughter, Darnesha Heath; and grandson, Eddie Woullard. By the summer of 1991, she had 12 grandchildren.

Eventually, Eva would retire from her formal careers to raise her grandchildren full-time, splitting that time between their schools where she worked in the kitchen, classrooms, and on organizing field trips. To make money, she ran a food and drink service from her home, and was known to make some of the best Hamburgers and Tacos in Los Angeles.

She welcomed her first great-grandchild in the winter of 1995, a baby girl name Paridesha Oliver. Whenever times were tough, Eva had a way of shielding her loved ones from hardship and making something out of nothing, so they never went without. She worked hard at everything she did. She kept God on her side and her faith at the forefront of her life. Eva Mae was a force of nature. She was sweet, honest and determined, but she was by no means a "push over." While she'd love you to death and would do anything for you, she also wouldn't hesitate to tell you about yourself if you were wrong, "and you could take that to the bank!"

In the summer of 2013, Eva decided to make North Carolina her new home. After the loss of her sister and last living sibling, Lola Faye took its toll on her, she was ready for a fresh start. It was there she joined her daughter and son-in-law Sheila and Kelly Hill, along with her granddaughter Swamekeyia "Parker" Parker and great-granddaughter Lila R. McAuley.

She found her church home in Garner, NC at Ecclesia Fellowship COGIC where she was welcomed and embraced with open arms. Eva enjoyed attending church, where she developed some of her strongest bonds, all of which she was grateful for beyond words.

Eva was called home to be with her Lord on May 16th, 2025, where she was surely welcomed by all who preceded her to help show her the way.

She will be missed by all who knew and loved her, and all who had the experience of her friendship...

The family would like to give a special thank you to the following, for helping see her through to the very end. We are eternally grateful for your kindness and friendship:

Sister Affini, Sister White, Pastor Gause, First Lady Gause, Lexi, Debra (Brenda), Jason Scott, Peggy, Maurice, James and the many, many, others...