In Memorial

                                                         

Bryant Joseph, Principal of Fred F. Florence Middle School and Franchise

Owner of Salad Creations Restaurant, Dies

 

Family, Friends, Students and Colleagues Celebrate His Life and Cherish His

Memory

 

DALLAS (September 19, 2007) - Bryant Joseph, 34 year-old Principal of Fred

F. Florence Middle School and co-franchise owner of Salad Creations

restaurant, went home to join the LORD on early Monday, September 17, 2007.

“Bryant Joseph was a warm, positive, creative, energetic young man who had a

gentle perseverance that brought all groups of people together to focus on

students, “ said Ivonne Durant, Executive Director of Dallas ISD’s Northwest

Learning Community. “He transformed Fred Florence Middle School in less than

two years and in his role as an educator, he inspired all of us who were

privileged enough to be a part of his life.”

 

Bryant’s devout passion for education and desire to positively affect lives

led him to pursue a career in education focusing on school districts where

his work would make the strongest impact. A local Baton Rouge, LA radio talk

show host, Mary Mason-Gordon, gave Bryant a Bible upon college graduation

and inscribed these words, “Let this Bible be the compass that will guide

you from this day to a bright and successful future.” It certainly did.  As

Principal of Dallas ISD’s, Fred F. Florence Middle School, Bryant touched and

inspired many lives, young and old, and helped the school achieve the

highest percentage increase in TAKS scores for middle schools in the

surrounding area. From 2001- 2004, he served as the Vice Principle and Dean

of Instruction at W.H. Gaston Middle School.  This was Bryant’s first

administrative position after receiving his Masters in Education

Administration from Texas A&M Commerce.  Prior to this role, Bryant taught

biology and chemistry at Hillcrest and Skyline High Schools.  His first

assignment after graduating from Xavier University in New Orleans, LA was at

Lucy Flowers High School, in Chicago, Illinois, where he taught biology and

chemistry and served as Chairperson of the Science Department.

 

“Bryant was a man of integrity whose respectful vision has left a legacy at

Fred Florence Middle School that will stand the test of time,” said Durant.

“ Mr. Joseph gave of his time and talent to develop the best in his

students, staff, colleagues, parents and community.”

 

Bryant Joseph was born on March 17, 1973 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to

Ulysses and Linda Joseph. He attended McKinley Middle Magnet School and

graduated from Baton Rouge Magnet High School in 1991. After graduation,

Bryant attended Xavier University in New Orleans, LA, where he received a

Bachelors of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Curriculum and

Development.  It was at Xavier University, while assisting her on a

chemistry assignment that he met his beautiful wife, Charrell Joseph.

 

“When you looked in a dictionary next to the word husband, there was a

picture of Bryant,” said Charrell. “Bryant was a dedicated and loving

person, husband and father. He was my best friend.”

 

Raised in a home that valued education and religion, Bryant indeed was a

stellar individual. His parents, Ulysses and Linda Joseph, are both

educators and placed a strong emphasis on education and spirituality. His

dad, Ulysses Joseph, is currently the Director of Support Services for the

City of Baker Louisiana School System.  His mother, Rev. Linda Joseph, is a

retired high school head counselor and Ordained Deacon of the United

Methodist Church.

 

“We taught our kids to have strong morals, values, and spiritual principles

and to always pursue their passion,” said Linda and Ulysses Joseph, Bryant’s

parents. “We are extremely proud of Bryant and all of his personal and

professional accomplishments.”

 

Bryant’s magnetic smile showcased to the world a humble and kind spirit.

Never the one wanting to be in the forefront, Bryant was a man that enjoyed

to lead and to savor his blessings from behind the scenes. He was a loving

son, a compassionate husband, a role model big brother, a supportive friend,

a phenomenal businessman, an inspiring colleague, and a magnificent father.

 

“Our daughter Imani, is truly a daddy’s little girl”, said Charrell. “Bryant

loved her so much and served not only as her father but was her teacher,

protector and hero.”

 

Four-year old Imani truly loved her daddy and enjoyed to sing and perform

for him and the family. Just one day before he passed, Imani gave her father

a picture titled “My Daddy’s Favorite Things.”  In the picture she had drawn

a football to symbolize Bryant’s love of the game, a chair that symbolized

his favorite place to sit, and a table of foods that symbolized how her

daddy loved to cook.

 

It was Bryant’s love of family and healthy cooking that inspired him and

Charrell to become franchise owners of Salad Creations, a fresh and healthy

alternative to fast food that recently premiered at the Village on the Green

Shopping Center, near North Dallas’ Galleria Mall.

 

“We wanted to own a business so that our children could have something to

call their own for many years to come," said Charrell.

 

In the early morning of Monday, September 17, 2007 after preparing the meals

for the week, watching the Dallas Cowboys football game, bathing and putting

four-year old Imani to bed, Bryant Joseph laid down, fell asleep and went

back home to the LORD.

 

Bryant is survived by his best friend and loving wife, Charrell Joseph; two

children Imani and Baby Joseph (due 4/2008); his parents Ulysses and Linda

Joseph, Baton Rouge, LA; his brother Andre (Dre) Joseph (Osjeta), Baton

Rouge, LA; his mother and father -in-law Charlotte White (Derrell) and

Charles Decoster (Sabrina), Chicago, IL; his sister-in-law Jasmine Hardwick;

Chicago, IL.   He also leaves to cherish his memory a host of aunts, uncles,

cousins, other relatives and many friends.

 

A home going celebration for Bryant Joseph will be held at 10 a.m. on

Saturday, September 22, 2007 at St. Luke United Methodist Church, 5710 E. RL

Thornton Freeway, Dallas, Texas, 75223. The Pastor Tyrone Gordon will

officiate. Relatives and friends are welcome at the church for a viewing on

Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. until the hour of services. A memorial service for

students, colleagues, friends and family will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30

p.m. on Friday, September 21, 2007 at Fred F. Florence Middle School, 1625

N. Masters Dr., Dallas Texas 75217.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family has established The Bryant F. Joseph

Scholarship that will be awarded to a deserving young student planning to

attend Xavier University in New Orleans, LA.   Contributions should be made

payable to Xavier University and mailed to The Bryant F. Joseph Scholarship

Fund, 5301 Alpha Rd., Suite #48, Dallas, Texas 75240.

 

 

 

 

Torey Page

Associate Principal

Fred F. Florence M.S.