Alphonza “Buddy” Bryant Sr. was born on Jan. 3, 1941, in Suffolk. He passed away on Feb. 6, 2014, after a five-year battle with cancer.

Buddy attended East Suffolk High School. After meeting the love of his life, Helen, they married and moved to the Bronx, N.Y., in the early 1960s.

Alphonza is survived by his wife of 51 years, Helen Bryant, of Bronx, N.Y.; his children, Helen Hemphill, of Georgia, Alonzo Bryant (wife Teresa), of New Jersey, and Eric Bryant, of Virginia. Buddy is also survived by his grandchildren, Tamara Bryant, Shaniqua Stephens, Sequince Bryant, Ashley Bryant, Aliyah Bryant, Eric Bryant Jr., Justin Bryant, Brielle Bryant, Britney Bryant, Alphonza Bryant III and Priscilla Hemphill. Also surviving are his sisters, Lily Yates, of Virginia, and Helen B. Bryant, of Virginia; and nine great-grandchildren.

Buddy was predeceased by his son, Alphonza Bryant II; his grandson, Alphonza “BJ” Bryant III; his mother, Erma Bryant; and his father, Clayton White.

Buddy also leaves behind a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Mr. Bryant will be on view at the funeral home on Friday, from 3 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will take place at the funeral home chapel on Saturday at noon, and he will be laid to rest in the T.E. Cooke-Overton Garden of Carver Memorial Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy and flowers may be extended to the family at www.cookeovertonfuneralhome.com. Professional services are entrusted to T.E. Cooke-Overton Funeral Home Inc.