Rufus Carlee Bryant's Obituary
Rufus Carlee Bryant, age 87, of Petersburg, Tennessee, passed away on Thursday,
January 8, at the home of his daughter, Bridgyt Copley, in Rogersville, Alabama.
Rufus was born March 16, 1937, in Petersburg, Tennessee, where he spent most of
his life. For more than forty years he lived in the rock house he built with his own
hands—a lasting testament to his strong work ethic and talent as a craftsman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Rufus Bryant and Jessie Parker
Bryant; his former wife, Frances Hazel Gleghorn Bryant Mitchell; sisters Rachael
Whitaker and Martha Lou Wallace; and brothers William Monroe Bryant and
Bobby Joe Bryant.
He is survived by his devoted daughter, Bridgyt B. (Jay) Copley; stepdaughters
Cynthia Hart and Hunterland Ganier; granddaughters Calee A. Copley and Carly
M. Copley; sister Marie Tucker; brothers Earl Mack (Billie Jo) Bryant, and Ron
Bryant; along with many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
At the age of 17, Rufus proudly joined the United States Air Force with the written
permission of his father. After basic training he was stationed at the Atomic Bomb
Testing Site in Indian Springs, Las Vegas, Nevada, where he decontaminated and
painted aircraft and photographed takeoffs and landings. He loved telling the story
of accidentally capturing a “big red bull” in one of his film footages—an incident
that angered a Colonel but ultimately led to his reassignment to France. While
stationed there, Rufus learned to operate cranes and heavy equipment, sparking a
lifelong passion for running bulldozers and machinery.
Following his military service, Rufus put those skills to work throughout
Tennessee. He helped build the foundation of the Raccoon Mountain Hydroelectric
Facility outside Chattanooga and worked on the original construction of Interstate
65 in the Franklin area. Countless roads, ponds, lakes, and construction projects
across Lincoln County stand today as part of his legacy.
Rufus was known for his creativity and talent as a rock mason. What began as a
hobby turned into a lifetime of beautiful work—entranceways, ornamental stone
beds, bridge supports, shops, and two completed houses. He took great pride in
gathering his own rock and shaping each project with care and individuality.
He was a natural storyteller and a jokester. For many years his day began with a
7:00 a.m. trip to the local Co-Op to visit and swap stories with friends before
getting on with the day’s work. He also loved tinkering with old cars and trucks
and barbequing. Seeing him under the hood of an automobile with the smell of
whole-hog barbeque with his special sauce was common occurrence. He was
rarely seen without a loyal dog by his side, faithful companions throughout his life.
Rufus Bryant will be remembered as a hardworking man with a quick wit and
hands that built lasting things. His grit and lifelong hard work will not be forgotten
and he will be missed.
A Celebration of Life ceremony is being planned for March 28, 2026 at West
Fayetteville Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, 24 Boonshill Road, Fayetteville,
Tennessee 37334 at 1pm.
What’s your fondest memory of Rufus?
What’s a lesson you learned from Rufus?
Share a story where Rufus' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Rufus you’ll never forget.
How did Rufus make you smile?