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Yvonne Bryant

Long Island EOC – 1977-78
College Prep Program

A Grandmother Gets a Second Chance to Start a New Life

As a single mother – and grandmother – Yvonne Bryant knew that she needed higher education to help make a better life for her children and grandchildren. But first, she needed to get her High School Equivalency Diploma. She completed the course at the Long Island EOC and earned her GED on her first try. Ms. Bryant celebrated her accomplishment by immediately enrolling in the College Prep Program at the EOC.

After completing the EOC program with honors, Ms. Bryant was accepted in the Mortuary Science Associate Degree program at Farmingdale State College in 1979. Once she earned her degree in 1981, she wanted to show her appreciation to the Long Island EOC for helping her reach her goal of self-sufficiency. So she established the “Yvonne Henyard Accomplishment Award,” which was presented annually for 10 years to other single mothers who took advantage of a second chance to start a better life.

Ms. Bryant observes, “At the EOC, I learned that you can achieve any goal you want – even if you are older. It’s never too late to go back to school.” Combining her caring heart with her newly acquired business skills, Ms. Bryant opened a residential care facility on Long Island for those who could not care for themselves.

Since 1991, Ms. Bryant has been the owner and administrator of the Bryant Residential Care Facility for women in Magee, Mississippi. A few years ago, she started up a similar residential long-term care facility for men in Mendenhall, Mississippi, called the Bryant Independent Village. She manages more than 10 people on her staff and over 50 patients between the two facilities – providing care, concern and comfort for the infirm, mentally and physically challenged, and senior citizens.