Mr. Cornell Bryant, 60, of Utica, passed away on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at Wynn Hospital.

     Cornell was born in Harlem, NY on May 6, 1963, and raised in the Bronx for most of his life. He’s the son of Bertha Mae Bryant and Charlie Bryant of Savannah, Georgia.

His first job was working for a Pepsi Company in NYC for many years. Cornell later moved to Utica, NY, where he earned his CNA license. Cornell continued his passion as a CNA for over a decade. He’s worked for both the Masonic Home and St. Luke’s Home of Utica, in the early and late 2000s. He always expressed his love for working with the elderly. He had many stories to share and never missed an opportunity to share them. He enjoyed playing basketball; his favorite player was Kobe Bryant and his team was the LA Lakers.

He loved singing, dancing, and his old school music. Cornell loved everything about old school music; from the instruments to the beat, and the vocals, the music moved him in a way that you only understand when you’re older. He really connected to the words and the sound. He would play a song he loved on repeat all day if you let him. He also loved reciting famous lines from famous movies and make them his own. He had a great sense of humor for things like that. Even in serious moments, Cornell found a way to make a person laugh. He always had a joke to tell.

Cornell also loved meeting new people, he was very friendly in that way. He was always ready to help others in need. He was an “uncle” to a lot of kids that weren’t family but became family after a while. He was the kind of person that bought the whole street of kids ice cream in the summertime. He was a loyal friend and family member, always ready to come to someone’s defense. Cornell enjoyed cooking, he got all his cooking tips from his mom. His soul food was always the best. He enjoyed to play the card games spades and pitty pat, it was always something to look forward to when he visited the family in the Bronx, they’re always playing card games at the Bryant gatherings. He also cherished raising, loving, and getting to know his daughters and grandchild. He loved taking care of his family, family ties were a testament of love and togetherness. Cornell had a very big heart and never hesitated to help those in need. He was truly one of a kind and will be missed dearly.

Unbroken, even in the face of farewell, leaving a profound void in the heart of those who knew him.

     Cornell is survived by his beloved companion, Elizabeth Salòn of Herkimer; three loving daughters, Daeja Bryant of Utica, Jazmin Johnson, of Utica, and Breanna Cardona of Rome; a cherished grandchild, Cameron Bryant; His mother, Bertha Mae Bryant; one sister, Eva Lewis of Harlem, NY and one brother, Cedric Bryant of the Bronx. Sister in law Greta Jack of Harlem, NY. God brother Roger Holman of Bronx, NY.

Cornell was also loved and survived by the Neal, Watkins, Jenkins and Spratt families of Utica, NY as well as several cousins, nieces, and nephews of the Bryant family in NYC. Cornell was predeceased by his father, Charlie Bryant, his sister, Nancy Bryant and brother, Craig Bryant.