Stephen Gene “Fuji” Bryan, 62, died on December 8, 2022, in Sulphur Springs. He was born in Seoul, Korea on November 16, 1960. He was adopted and brought to America by Rev. Bobby and Betty Bryan in March of 1961.
Mr. Bryan was a graduate of Rains High School and received his Bachelor of Science in Business from East Texas Baptist College or East Texas Baptist University as it is now known. After graduation, he began his career with Aramark in food service which led him to many universities, prisons and camps across the United States. While working in Winnsboro, Louisiana, God led him to First Baptist Church Winnsboro. It was there that he began working with the youth and eventually became the full-time youth minister. While he ministered for 17 years his family grew by leaps and bounds and every youth that went through his ministry became one of his “kids.” After leaving Winnsboro, he moved to Emory and stayed with his sister, Jeanette, and her husband Wayne. He served as a substitute teacher for Rains ISD and was dearly loved by all those who worked with him, served with him, and were led by him.
Mr. Bryan is survived by his sister, Jeanette Melton and husband Wayne; nephew, Corey Beasley and wife Alicia; nieces, Kimberly Crain and husband Ronny, Sarah Jones and husband Jacob, Kalie Berry and husband Bradford, and Laura Jackson and husband Jace; nephew, Jonathan Beasley and wife Taylor; and numerous great-nephews and nieces, best friends, and extended family, as well as all his “kids” from his youth ministry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Bobby and Betty Bryan.