Merle Bryant Lord, age 93, of Dublin, GA passed away on January 6, 2017.

Mrs. Lord was born on March 11, 1923 in Bleckley County to Vida Powell Bryant and Joe Bryant, Sr. She was a graduate of Cochran High School and attended Middle Georgia College. She was employed as a bookkeeper at Cochran Wholesale Company and at the Bank of Dudley. After her children were born, she chose to be a full time mother. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was also a faithful member of Bay Springs Primitive Baptist Church and dearly loved all of its members.

Services for Mrs. Lord will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, January 10 in the chapel of Townsend Brothers Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Dublin Memorial Gardens. Elder Michael Hattaway and Spenser Fussell will officiate. The family will receive friends from 5:00PM until 7:00 PM Monday, January 9 at the funeral home. Mrs. Lord is preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Albert Lord; her parents; sisters, Doris Bryant and Myrtice Bryant Gafford; brothers, Bobby Bryant and David Bryant.

Survivors include her children, Tommy Joe (Mary Jean) Lord of Granger, Indiana, Brenda Lord (Jeff) Bacon of Dudley; Karen Lord (Phil) Phillips of Hazlehurst; grandchildren, Laura L. (Scott) Kalil, Thomas (Kristen) Lord, John Lord, Steven (Jennifer) Bacon, Jenny B. (James) Hunt, Don (Cami) Phillips, Andrew (Victoria) Phillips, Bryant Phillips, Ivey Phillips, Joshua Phillips and Coleman Phillips; nine great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Mildred B. Lord and Melvis B. Edenfield; brothers, Joe Bryant, Jr. and Houston Bryant; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family is very grateful to Mrs. Lord's caregivers, Bernice O'Neal and Annie Stephens. Thanks also to the caregivers at James Place Senior Living and Serenity Hospice. The family would also like to extend a special thanks to Pat Johnson, who was a caregiver and dear friend to Mrs. Lord for the last five years of her life. Each one has a special place in her family's heart for the loving care they gave.

Mrs. Lord's grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Mrs. Lord to Bay Springs Primitive Baptist Church, c/o Larry Woodard, 1344 Old Toomsboro Road, Dublin, GA 31021 or to Serenity Hospice, 520 Hillcrest Pkwy. Dublin, GA, 31021