John Arthur Bryant, age 32, of Wilmington, gained his wings on Sunday, October 28, 2018. He was an honor roll student at A.I. DuPont High School and an all-star baseball player throughout his childhood.

John’s war with addiction began during his teenage years. He often wrote letters about his determination to get better and fought hard to break free of the addiction grasp. There are no words to describe how much he loved his family, especially his daughter, Mariah, and his mother, Jaimie, aka “Mother Dearest” to him. His mother was his rock, and her unwavering support and the love of his family were why he fought so hard to get well.

John battled the addiction beast like a warrior every step of the way. But addiction does not discriminate, and heroin is a demon that affects how your brain processes pleasure. It takes over not just your brain but your life, often destroying everything in its path along the way.

Tragically, like so many others, John didn’t win his addiction battle. His fight is over now, and he is at peace. Heroin took away his sparkle and his smile. It took away his sense of humor and continued to take pieces of him until it ultimately took his life. But John was not his addiction. He was smart, handsome, caring, and loving. He was an amazing son, brother, father, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend. He never judged others and opened his heart to everyone he met.

John’s family and friends are heartbroken but choose to celebrate his life and take comfort in knowing he shines down on them and will keep working miracles from heaven.

John was preceded in death by his grandmother, Carlene Conn. His memory lives on in his daughter, Mariah and her mother, Jenna Bench of Wilmington. John also leaves behind his devoted mother, Jaimie Foster of Wilmington; father, Kenneth Bryant and Diane Bryant; his grandfather, Kenneth Conn of Wilmington; his grandparents, Butch and Pam Bryant of Wilmington; his siblings, Cynthia Saunders (fiancee Joseph Noel) of Newark, Brittany Lanham of Wilmington, Erica Saunders-Johnson of Wilmington, Jacob Geistel of Wilmington, Brandon Bryant of Wilmington, and Breana Bryant of Wilmington; his nieces and nephews, Jordan Noel, Jailynn Noel, Luna Bryant, and Nathan Johnson of Wilmington, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

A celebration of John’s life will be on Friday, November 2, 2018 at 6:00 pm at Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home 1400 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington, DE 19805. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 4:30-6 pm. Interment will be private.

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