Clifton Dewayne Bryant

Clifton Dewayne Bryant was born on February 10, 1975 in Orangeburg, South Carolina.  He was the son of Doretta and the late Clarence Hilliard (stepfather), who played a pivotal part in his upbringing.

Dewayne graduated in 1993 from J.M. Wright Technical School as a carpenter. He started his career as a carpenter for Carpentry Unlimited in the early 90’s.  Dewayne later went on to start his own business ( CD Bryant Construction LLC) .  He flourished into, what we like to say, ‘ The Master Flipper’. His home designs were unique and amazing! His ability to master the business was something to talk about.

Dewayne’s love and knowledge of God moved him to symbolized and dedicate his life through water baptism to Jehovah God, in 1995.  As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he was active and regularly attended meetings at the Kingdom Hall. His field ministry was of utmost importance to him.

He loved to play basketball, football, and golf.  Dewayne had a reputation for his love and passion to play the game of basketball.  In his early years he was known by many as “Cadillac aka Caddy”.  Many of his basketball team-mates and opponents knew him as the loudest one on the court!  Oftentimes, the most confrontational.  But at the end of the game, he always ended it with his welcoming smile and contagious laugh.

On October 4, 1997, Dewayne married Chelsea.  From this union came two amazing girls, Chloe and Cailyn.

Everyone can relate to the bright smile on his face when he entered the room, often known as “ Sunny, 70-Degrees in San Diego ”.  From standing, to being confined to a wheelchair in his later years, he never stopped smiling!

Dewayne leaves behind a loving wife, Chelsea Bryant.  His two daughters: Chloe & Cailyn Bryant. As well as his parents; his mother, Doretta Hilliard; and his father, William L. Smith (Mae Ella), his siblings; Ezra Hillard (Doreen), Nathan Goodwin (Sondiner), Dennis Allen (Vivian), William Smith (Lisa), Denise Jonell.  In addition to a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews and a *Very special thank you to Larry Allen Moore*

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday February 1, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses, 126 Newtown Avenue, Norwalk.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Hoyt-Cognetta/Raymond Funeral Home, 5 East Wall Street, In Historic Norwalk, CT.

Loving words from the family :

Chelsea Bryant (wife) : “I miss Dewayne every second of each day.  Despite the last 4 years being the most challenging, we kept Chloe & Cailyn happy and lived a normal life.  From the very start of his illness, it took everything in my power, and relying on Jehovah, to keep the family going. We managed to create a crazy routine, but it worked.  I will miss trips together to the beach as a family, and I’ve vowed to myself and to my God, to raise Dewayne’s and I amazing girls and keep them safe! I was in love with Dewayne, I will ALWAYS love him and will see him again REAL SOON!”

Doretta Hilliard (mother ):  “My son never said NO to anyone, he was always willing to help.  He will be missed dearly.  He always loved to eat and I will miss cooking his special meals.  This will ONLY be temporary…. because I KNOW…I will see my son again….REAL SOON!”

Ezra Hillard (brother) : Dewayne was my big brother, YES.  What some people may not know, he was my hero.  He taught me so much, it was a blessing to have him as my big brother.   My memories of him seem like yesterday.  You can never forget helping someone climb out of a second story window, while holding the other end of the sheets.  Dewayne would pull back up to the window to say, ‘don’t tell mommy I took her car.  I got you, and will be back with some snacks for you, good looking ’.  He would look back at me again, laugh then jump.  All that was left to see were the car taillights over the top of the hill.  I loved my brother and we will always be there for each other.  He was truly a loving father, husband, son, brother, nephew, cousin, friend and person. I LOVED MY BIG BROTHER DEWAYNE!

Larry Allen Moore : There are no words to express how I feel right now.  When Dewayne left me, with that million-dollar smile, Im positive he knew I did all I could, to keep him going, especially when he needed me to be there.  Some days I would watch him when he didn’t know it. He looked like a super-hero on most days and kept that million-dollar smile!  When I would bring him home in the evenings, Chloe & Cailyn would run up to the wheelchair and treat him like the “ father of the year”, every single day.  Dewayne KNEW I love him and that I would ALWAYS have his back.

McCoy & Lucy Mitchell : Dewayne’s smile spoke a thousand words.  He was a great father to our beautiful grand-daughters Chloe & Cailyn .

Chloe & Cailyn : We love you daddy, see you in the Paradise!

Special thanks :  We sincerely thank everyone for their support during this most difficult time.  May we all continue to look to Jehovah God for comfort and guidance!