Henry Howard Bryson would like to let you know that his work here is done.

He received a call from his Heavenly Father for a mission from which he will not be returning. This assignment comes with a priceless sign-on bonus: A reunion with his beloved wife and childhood sweetheart Eleanor Ann Holmes and family and friends he has not seen in a long time.

As a corporate executive, Henry was a trailblazer who took on many tough assignments. But Henry's new mission takes him to a wonderful place where he is socializing, poking fun and telling jokes to his heart's content. In his long career, Henry lived in many cities. But he is now in a special place where fellowship, laughter and love are guaranteed.

At 84 years of age, Henry passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 10, 2019 at Peak Resources in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was born to the late Benjamin Broadus and Rosa Lee Kemp Bryson in Greenwood, South Carolina on August 18, 1934. Also preceding Henry's passing are his brothers Leroy Kemp, Chester Kemp, sister Shirley Williams (Milton - deceased), wife Eleanor and son Kenneth (Lilliana).

Henry attended Brewer High School where he excelled in many areas, such as drama, oratory, and athletics. He graduated from Brewer in 1952 as valedictorian of his class. He was also honored with many other awards including the S.C. Hodges medal for scholarship.

But Henry's greatest prize in life was his marriage to Eleanor Ann Holmes. He married Ann in 1955 and had three children: Henry Jr, Kenneth and Tracy.

Henry attended Morehouse College where he received a scholastic scholarship. He played football for four years and was chosen for the collegiate all city team in Atlanta in 1955. While at Morehouse, Henry became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated and graduated in 1956 with a B.A. Mathematics with minors in physics and education.

After graduating Morehouse, Henry was hired as a mathematician by Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. He spent eleven years there before relocating his family to Minnesota in 1967, where he joined Control Data Corporation.

At Control Data, Henry rose through the ranks to become the first and only African American general manager of software development for the Cyber 200 series super computer. Henry's success as a senior executive was featured in an advertisement that ran in the June 1984 issue of Black Enterprise magazine.

After 19 years at Control Data, Henry become an independent computer systems consultant and was recognized nationally as an expert on software development methodology. During this time, Henry worked in the Washington D.C. area for eight years.

In 1988, Henry moved back to Minnesota, where he worked for the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, managing the Word Processing Department. After retiring in 1999, Henry moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he worked as a part-time contractor at Bank of America and tutored school-age children in math. Henry fellowshipped at Ebenezer Baptist Church where he participated in the senior adult ministry.

Henry is survived in legacy by his son Henry Bryson Jr. (Machelle) and daughter Tracy Bryson Plunkett, six grandchildren, six great grandchildren, sister Kay Blocker (Lee – deceased), brother Calvin Bryson (Frankie), In-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and longtime friends.

There's no doubt that Henry will be fondly remembered for his love of hats, telling jokes and most of all helping others. And we encourage you to tell a few good stories of the great Henry Bryson, and help us celebrate the news that his mission here has been completed.