Pioneer Baptist journalist Bryant dead at 82

Belleville, Ill. — C.E. Bryant, a pioneer in Baptist corporate communications, died Jan. 7 in Belleville, Ill.

Bryant, 82, served two years as the first director of the Southern Baptist Convention’s news service, Baptist Press, after its founding in 1946.

He also was the first director of communications for the Baptist World Alliance, a job he held 25 years before retiring in 1982.

Former colleagues said Bryant demonstrated professional journalism training that could be used in the work of the church.

“C.E. Bryant was a trailblazer for modern-day Baptist journalists,” said Bob terry, editor of The Alabama Baptist news journal and executive secretary of the Association of State Baptist Papers.

W.C. Fields, director of Baptist Press from 1959 to 1987 called Bryant “one of the finest journalists Southern Baptist have had over these many years.”

Bryant had been hospitalized 10 days with the flu and pneumonia, according to a family friend.