Joseph Kinsley Bryan, Jr

Joseph Kinsley Bryan, “Joe” was born on July 10, 1932 in Oxford, NC. He was the oldest child of Dr. Joseph Kinsley Bryan and Dora Kimball Bryan. While in high school, he met his future wife, JoAnn Harris of Henderson. They married on November 28, 1952 and remained married until her death in October 2015.

After graduation from Oxford High School, Joe went to UNC Chapel Hill and graduated in January 1955 with a degree in accounting. He joined the Air Force, and Joe and JoAnn moved to Tampa, Florida where he was stationed at Fort McDill Air Force Base. He served as a Lt. Officer in the Budget and Accounting department from June 1955- June 1957. While in Tampa, their first daughter, Donna was born. They would later have two more daughters, Ann and Martha. While living in Florida, Joe and JoAnn developed a love of the state that would inspire them in later years to travel extensively looking for a place to spend winters. They eventually discovered Naples, Florida.

In 1957, Joe completed his time in the service and moved back to Oxford, where he entered the insurance and accounting business. He soon started a long time successful career in real estate and opened Daniel and Bryan Realty in 1960. Then in 1970, Joe Bryan & Associates, Inc. was formed and was in existence until 2023. He started several subdivisions in the Oxford Henderson area.

In 1961, the Granville County Economic Development Commission was formed with Joe as an initial board member. He served for 37 years and was instrumental in bringing over 75 businesses to Granville County. When Granville Industrial Developers was formed, he served as Secretary/ Treasurer. Joe also served on the Executive Committee of the Granville County Committee of 100. He loved Granville County and Oxford and not only recruited businesses but banks, such as CCB. He served on the original board of CCB, and later was involved in the creation of Granville United Bank. He served on the Board of Granville United Bank until it was dissolved.

Joe was a lifelong member of the Oxford United Methodist Church, where he served on the Administrative Board, as a Trustee and Usher, and member of the Will Hicks Men’s Sunday School Class. He held the title of being a member of the church the longest. In his earlier years he was a Jaycee. In 1998, he received the Granville County Chamber of Commerce Presidents Award for Outstanding Community Leader. He was a member of the Profit and Loss Stock Club until it dissolved, and later became a member of the Granville Mutual Investors Stock Club. He was a member of the American Legion. He was a knowledgeable historian of Oxford and Granville County.

When Joe moved back to NC from Florida, he bought a piece of property on the newly impounded Kerr Lake. He moved his childhood “bunk house” from College Street to the lake. What started as a one room cabin became a house as Joe built around the “bunk house” over the course of 50 plus years, doing most of the work himself. The family continues to enjoy the lake house. Joe loved “kidnapping” people on his boat as he cruised around the lake in his Aqua Chalet. He loved dogs and loved to travel with them and his girls. He and JoAnn traveled to all 48 states in his RV, always accompanied by a dog and sometimes his daughters and grandchildren. He enjoyed being with people of all ages, as evidenced in his later years when he spent Thursday nights at local establishments with his daughters and other friends.

He is survived by his daughter, Dr. Donna Bryan Spears of Oxford, NC; daughter, Ann Bryan of Oxford, NC; daughter, Martha Bryan Compton (Penn) of Wilmington, NC; grandson, Penn Compton, Jr. of Greensboro, NC; granddaughter, Kinsley Compton Iatridis (Nick) of Wilmington, NC; sister, Dora Tate (Fred) of Elizabethtown, NC; and nephew, Dr. Bryan Tate (Tracy) of Wilmington. He is also survived by his beloved pet dog, “Lady.” He was predeceased by his wife, JoAnn, and son-in-law, Dr. Reed Spears.

The service will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 11 AM at the Oxford United Methodist Church, with burial to follow at Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 PM until 7 PM at 144 Pine Cone Drive on Friday, May 30, 2025. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Oxford United Methodist Church, PO Box 757, Oxford, NC 27565.

The Bryan family is being cared for by Gentry-Newell & Vaughan, 503 College St, Oxford, NC 27565.  Online memorials may be made at: www.gnvfuneralhome.com