I don't know what life has in store for me but I expect it to be the best. I am one who believes that a person will get out of life exactly what he puts in. I plan to put in my best.

Life has already given me the opportunity for education. I took advantage of this opportunity and I am nearing its end as far as text books are concerned. I feel life has been more than generous with what it has already taught me, and I am sure I can expect much more knowledge in the future for there is so very much to learn about this wrld and its inhabitants.

Also, life has blessed me with my husband. This must have been a bonus because I can't think of anything I have done to deserve him, except t love him very much.

I expect life to give me a home and good healthy children. I will work hard to prove myself worthy of both. When I get them I will raise my children so that they will grow in stature and favor of God and man. i will make my home comfortable and attractive for my family and friends.

Life has given me a healthy body and mind for which I am very grateful. I hope to maintain these "blessings" and put them to good use in whatever opportunities may come my way in the future.     

I love my mother dearly, and she loves me. However, she believes in the old saying, "Spare the rod and spoil the child." I'm not trying to say that I didn't need what I got for I got it just the same.

One particular incident took place in the little country store where we traded. It was a Saturday morning and business was buzzing when my mother and I arrived at the store. A usual I headed for the candy counter while Mother made her purchases. The owner of the store let me select a nice peppermint stick and settled me on a coke case out of the way.

I didn't stay on the coke case but wandered around among the shelves of goods. On the bottom shelf I found a huge jar of sweet pickles - something I do love. Much to my enjoyment I found I could open the jar.

There I sat with the jar of pickles lacking it's correct quantity when my mother rounded the corner of shelves. I could tell by the expression on her face that something was about to happen. I can assure you that I didn't lose any time erecting myself and moving on at a fast pace. Around the corner and behind the stack of sacks of flour I flew with Mother hot on my heels. The chase lasted only a few minutes for Mother proved the faster.

Since everyone in the store seemed to enjoy our little escapade, Mother let things "ride" - that is, until we got home then I recieved my just due.    

I was enrolled in Mrs. Key's first grade in September of 1943. That year my class gave an assembly program in which all the girls wore crepe paper evening dresses. I had to memorize a speech a page and a half in length (typed).

Miss Mildred Pierce, now Mrs. Devon Sanders, was my teacher for the next two years In the second grade we won first place in "stunt night". Our act was called "PRETTY BABIES". Audrey Nell Cutrer  and I sang and danced to "Sweet and Lovely".

My fourth grade teacher was Miss Ethel Joyal. This was the year I had my first love affair.

In the fifth grade my teacher, Miss Mary Lucille Napier, gave me my first and last spanking.

Mrs. Frances Bell was my teacher in the sixth grade. She had part of the sixth and seventh grades. The first day we read a chapter in geography and she gave us a simple test. I, along with most of the class, made my first and last "F". We were all so excited we couldn't remember a thing. We won first place in "stunt night". The theme of our stunt was "APRIL SHOWERS". In the act, six of us girls sang and danced to "Powder Your Face With Sunshine". This was my first year to play basketball. I had never played anything I enjoyed more.

Then came the seventh grade This year quite a number of things happened to me. I moved from the grammar school building into the high school, was chosen to be a majorette for the high school band, made first-string forward on the junior basketball team, made pitcher for the junior softball team, and played on the junior volleyball team. As this was the last year my class could participate in "stunt night", we closed out our career in that field by taking first place with "IN THE GOOD OLE SUMMERTIME". Peggy Dykes, William Mixon, and I sang and danced to "Dearie".

Next came the eighth grade. This year I remained a majorette and held my position on the junior ball team. Then we graduated into high school. In the graduation exercises I made a speech and was a member of the quartet which sang, "In The Garden of Tomorrow".

As a freshman my year was full. I was made drum major of the band. Something else that was important to me was that I made first-string on the high school softball, basketball, and volley ball teams.

In my sophomore year, which I consider the most enjoyed of my school years, I maintained my positions on the athletic teams and as drum major of the band.

Then I was a junior. Near the first of the year we ordered our class rings(we talked about it for half of the year). This year I played only basketball and volley ball. For the third year I remained drum major. By now I was looking forward to graduation.

Then came "the" year. I became a senior. The second week of school we recieved our class rings. I held my position of drum major for my last year. My interest in the athletic teams has died because I have found new interests - I was married to Dickie Prescott, December 4, 1954. I have yet to finish my senior year; who knows what is in store for me?  

         

I never knew my grandparents very well. My father's father, William T. Bryant, was dead before I was born and his mother, Addie Estess Bryant, died when I was only two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant had a truck farm on which they raised tomatoes. Mr. Bryant was also a black-smith. Bonn Timothy Bryant, who was my great-grandfather, was a "good ole" Confederate soldier. My great-grandmother Bryant was Ann Belle. Much to my regret I know nothing about her. My great-grandfather, John Estess, married Barbara Walker. Together, with their children, they did a number of different jobs; spun cloth, made water buckets, straight chairs with cowhide bottoms (they tanned the cow-hides themselves), and numerous other jobs besides farming. John Estess donated the land for the Silver Creek Baptist Church and cemetary, where he and his family are now buried.

My mother's father, Fletcher Bond, lived until I was seven years of age and Grandmother Bond, Florence Morris died just before I was six years old. They had a sawmill, gritsmill, and gin-run by water power-when they lived in Louisiana. In 1923 they moved to Mississippi and stared truck farming. Great-grandmother Clara Miller Morris is the most admirable of my ancestors that I know about. When her husband, Joseph Cain Morris died, she made a living for her three children by working in the field for various people.
Someday when time and circumstances permit, I shall search farther for information on my ancestors.  

Julia Irene Bryant (Prescott) Forrest, 77, of Kentwood, LA., died peacefully on March 4, 2015 after a 24 year struggle with Parkinson's Disease.

Born April 26, 1937 in Lexie, MS., she was preceeded in death by her parents, Burlin R. and Pauline (Bond) Bryant, her brother and only sibling, Burlin "Randy" Bryant, and her loving husband, Robert Dale Forrest.

Julia was Kentwood's Town Clerk for 42 years. Ask anyone and they will tell you that she was the backbone of City Hall. Things could not get done without her. She retired to enjoy country living with her husband, Dale. She was a member of Kentwood First Baptist Church, an avid reader, loved sewing and computers. But her greatest pleasure was the time she spent with her family and she gave her love abundantly to her grandchildren.

Survivors include her son, Richard, Jr. "Ricky" & Jill (Scioneaux) Prescott, two daughters, Raine P. Himel and Ronde P. Newman;  stepson, Craig & Pam (Cook) Forrest, and stepdaughter, Kathy Dale Forrest; ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Julia's loving and generous spirit continues to touch lives. It was her desire that, when she passed on, her body would be donated to science. There will be a  Celebration of Life for family & friends at Kentwood First Baptist Church on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 9:00-11:00a.m. with a memorial service at 11:00a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Michael Stern Parkinson's Research Foundation, 1115 Broadway, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10010 or online at www.parkinsoninfo.org/donate.
Condolences may be left in Julia's online memorial at http://www.forevermissed.com/julia-bryant-forrest/

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to St. Helena Parish Nursing Home for Julia's care, Community Hospice and Professional Funeral Services for their support in her final days.