Juanita Martin Bryant

Juanita Martin Bryant

July 2, 1928 – June 15, 2025

Juanita Martin Bryant of Boonville and Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away on June 15, 2025 after nearly a century of women’s advocacy, dedicated public service, and experienced leadership.

Juanita’s greatest achievements included raising her family on the Bryant dairy and tobacco farm in Boonville in Yadkin County, becoming North Carolina Federation of Women’s Clubs President (1968-1970), Executive Director of the Council on the Status of Women’s Leadership Development Program (1978-1982), serving as International President of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (1982-1984), working as Development Director of the YWCA of Wake County (1985-1993), and advancing women’s initiatives statewide as Executive Director of the North Carolina Council for Women (1993-2000). While at the NC Council for Women, Juanita was selected as “Tar Heel of the Week” by The News & Observer. Juanita received the Distinguished Citizen of North Carolina Award in 1982, and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. in 2000.

Juanita retired from state government in 2000 and maintained homes in Boonville and Raleigh, continuing her active life in civic and community service. She still held memberships in the Boonville Woman’s Club and The Woman’s Club of Raleigh, the Women’s Forum of North Carolina, Wake County Democratic Women, North Carolina Democratic Women, and WomenNC.

Juanita was instrumental in lobbying the North Carolina General Assembly to establish the NC Youth Council and the NC State Youth Advocacy Agency. She rallied successful support in 2007 for the Salute to the Flag of North Carolina to be adopted by the NC General Assembly as North Carolina’s official salute.

Juanita’s staunch advocacy and inspiration provided women of different backgrounds with opportunities to share experiences and succeed more fully. She was intentionally inclusive and nurtured the spark in everyone. From 1978-1982, she directed the NC Women’s Leadership Development Program which provided resources to more than 15,000 women at two statewide conferences, nine regional conferences, and local conferences in all 100 counties. From 1985 to 1993, she led the Wake County YWCA Academy of Women program that recognized local leaders in professional and volunteer efforts. Under her leadership, the NC Council for Women conducted their annual Distinguished Women of North Carolina Awards program. From 2002-2017, Juanita led the GFWC of NC Women of Achievement Awards annual program honoring women who made outstanding contributions in professional and community service.

Juanita was born to Julia Buffington and George W. Martin in Rowan County, NC on July 2, 1928, the day her father was laid off from Southern Railway. Her parents returned home to rural Gillsville, Georgia until George was called back to work and moved the family to Winston-Salem, NC. Juanita’s bond with the Buffington and Martin families strengthened throughout her childhood years as she spent holidays and summers with her cousins, and she led her immediate family to attend annual family reunions in Georgia until her health declined in 2024.

Winston-Salem Public Schools and Catawba College educated this life-long learner. She joined every club and church activity for which she was eligible, earned silver dollars tap dancing during intermission at the local movie theater, and was a majorette for R. J. Reynolds High School. Her love of history was enhanced by many Southern Railway trips, including riding to Washington for the dedication of the Jefferson Memorial. She also remembered standing by the railroad tracks as President Roosevelt’s flag draped coffin made its way from Georgia to DC.

Growing up in Winston-Salem, marrying Frank Bryant and moving to the Bryant family farm, Juanita knew she needed to become immersed in the rural community. She attended Yadkin County Farm Bureau meetings, took Cooperative Extension classes, worked in personnel at Chatham Manufacturing, led the PTA, Bible School, and the Girl Scout Brownie Troop, attended her children’s sporting events, was active in Yadkin County Democratic Women, and joined the Boonville Woman’s Club. With commitment to family, her faith, her friends, and the federation of women’s clubs, she remained steadfast in her efforts to help others be successful.

During her administration as State President for the North Carolina Federation of Women’s Clubs from 1968-1970, Juanita focused on public affairs and created the Juanita Bryant Citizenship Award, still given annually at the club, district, and statewide levels. For many years, she joined other statewide leaders in crafting the annual legislative agenda for the North Carolina Council of Women’s Organizations and worked tirelessly to seek passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.

She attended her first international convention of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) in Asheville in 1957. Always fashionable and beloved by many, Juanita missed only a few annual conventions due to health reasons. She served as club president, district president, and state president before being appointed to the national board of directors and being elected to multiple national offices.

GFWC became her passion. She was especially honored to serve as GFWC’s International President from 1982-1984, traveling extensively and working with national and international leaders while living in Washington, DC. She founded and established the GFWC Women’s History and Resource Center adjacent to GFWC International Headquarters. During her tenure, Juanita also served on many distinguished boards including the Medical College of Pennsylvania, CARE, Keep America Beautiful, Outstanding Young Women of America, the National Petroleum Council, National Farm City Council, Year of the Ocean Foundation, and the President’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped.

“Mrs. Bryant is one of North Carolina’s most knowledgeable citizens in the area of women’s issues,” noted Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. when he appointed her as Executive Director of the North Carolina Council for Women in 1993. While there, Juanita led programs for women including displaced homemakers, domestic violence and sexual assault prevention, women in the military, women in business, and Leadership Connections for at-risk youth. Governor Hunt also asked her to lead the North Carolina delegation of 48 women to the UN Conference on Women to Beijing, China in 1995, and she was later selected to lead a delegation to China as part of the U.S. Ambassador’s Program - People to People.

Juanita was a trailblazer. She was the first woman in North Carolina to be appointed by a Governor to chair a state board or commission, appointed by Governor Bob Scott to chair the State Youth Advisory Board. Governor Terry Sanford appointed her to the Roanoke Island Historical Foundation and the NC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, and to a task force to create the NC Commission on the Status of Women. Governor Dan K. Moore appointed her to a committee of the NC Education Commission, and Governor Jim Hunt appointed her to serve on the NC Domestic Violence Commission. Juanita also served on the NC Center on Crime and Punishment Commission, the NC Museum of Natural Sciences Board, the NC Consumer Council, and the Historically Underutilized Businesses Committee.

A lifelong Democrat, Juanita worked for many candidates and served as statewide women’s campaign chair for Margaret Harper’s 1972 campaign for Lieutenant Governor, the first woman to run for statewide political office in NC. For ten years, she served as Parliamentarian for the Democratic Women of North Carolina and Wake County Democratic Women.

Juanita received many awards and recognition for her efforts to impact communities and empower women. The NC Council for Women presented her with the 2024 Legacy Leadership Award and the Distinguished Woman of North Carolina Award in 2001. In 2000, she also received the NC Department of Administration’s Award for Excellence. She was the recipient of NC Equity’s Carpathian Award for Service in October 2000 and the Wake County YWCA Woman in Government Award in 1999. In 1998, Juanita was named a “pacesetter” for the Mississippi based Stennis Center for Southern Women in Public Service and brought the annual conference to Asheville, NC.

In recognition of Juanita’s commitment to advancing women’s issues, WomenNC named its fellowship program in her honor. The Women’s Forum of North Carolina presented her with the Woman of Distinction Award. The Democratic Women of North Carolina named her 2012 Democratic Woman of the Year, and she received the Mabel Claire Maddrey Award from the Democratic Women of Wake County. In 2007, Juanita was named GFWC Woman of Empowerment and received the 2000 GFWC Woman of Achievement Award. She also received the Woman of Achievement Award by GFWC-NC in 2002.

Juanita was predeceased by her husband J. Frank Bryant of Boonville, her parents George and Julia Buffington Martin of Winston-Salem, her brother William (Bill) Thomas Martin of Winston-Salem, brother Julian Richard (Dick) Martin of Winston-Salem and sisters-in-law Jackie Dunstan Martin Boaz and Nancy Lytle Martin, and brother-in-law Ed Wall of Rural Hall.

The family matriarch, Juanita is survived by her beloved children: Steven Franklin Bryant and Dawn Stroud Bryant of Raleigh, Debra Martin Bryant of Raleigh, and Jay Stanley Bryant and Denita Reece Bryant of Boonville and Purcellville, VA; her grandchildren: Kathleen (Katie) Bryant and Brian Hall, Kelly Bryant Smith and Jon Smith, Kori Reece Kelly and Mike Kelly, George Bryant, and Barbara Claire Bryant; her great-grandchildren: Cameron and Hayden Smith, and Liam and Sloane Kelly; her dear sister Judy Martin Wall of Rural Hall, and sisters-in-law Ann Livengood Martin of Winston-Salem and Gaye Bennett Bryant of Goldsboro; special Martin and Bryant nieces and nephews; and Georgia cousins.

The family visitation will be held on Sunday, June 22, from 4:00-6:00 pm at Gentry Funeral Home in Yadkinville. The funeral service will be held at Boonville United Methodist Church on Monday, June 23, at 1:00 pm, followed by the burial in Boonville Cemetery.

A celebration of Juanita’s life will be held on Sunday, July 20, from 3:00-5:00 pm at The Woman’s Club of Raleigh, 3300 Woman’s Club Drive in Raleigh.

The children sincerely thank Benny and Linda Poindexter of Boonville, Tameka and Sherri Bazemore of Raleigh, Transitions LifeCare of Wake County, and her close friends in the woman’s club for their care and support.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Boonville United Methodist Church, 116 North Carolina Avenue (PO Box 178), Boonville, NC 27011, or to the GFWC Women’s History and Resource Center, 1734 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036.

Gentry Family Funeral Service is serving the Bryant family.