By Nicole Hamilton
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ms. Bryson

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP - Teacher Elizabeth "Jean" Bryson used her skills as a listener and educator to change lives.

"She believed everyone counts - long before it became a slogan for schools - and she always tried to seek out the child who needed that extra bit of attention," said her daughter-in-law, Jeannette Bryson of Colerain Township.

Ms. Bryson died Monday at Hospice of Cincinnati in Blue Ash of lung cancer. The Colerain Township resident was 75.

"She was a woman ahead of her time," said her son, David Bryson of Colerain Township. "She was accepting of all people and had the ability to let people know she would not tolerate prejudice in a very kind way."

Born in what is now known as West Chester Township, the family moved to Sylva, N.C., when she was a young child.

Her father, Roscoe Poteet, served as the mayor of Sylva for more than 20 years.

Ms. Bryson earned a bachelor's degree from Western Carolina Teachers College in 1949, and taught at Cherokee Indian Reservation in Cherokee, N.C., before moving to Cincinnati with her husband, Alton Bryson, in 1954.

In 1956, she began her longtime career as a teacher in the Princeton School District, serving most of her time at Springdale Elementary School, where she taught fourth grade.

Ms. Bryson earned a master's degree in education from Miami University in 1977.

In 1984, she took a teaching job at Glendale Elementary, and retired in 1987.

"She said true success was having loving friends and family," her son said.

An Al-Anon counselor, she was also an active volunteer for the Aronoff Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Playhouse in the Park, Habitat for Humanity, and the American Red Cross.

In her retirement years, Ms. Bryson learned how to golf and joined a summer league at Lake Gloria in Colerain Township.

She was preceded in death by her former husband, Alton Bryson; two brothers, Glynn Poteet and Charles Poteet; and a sister, Jane Buchanan.

In addition to her son and daughter-in-law, other survivors include two other sons, Gary of Sharonville, and Steve of Finneytown; a sister, Thelma Joy Woodard of Soddy Daisy, Tenn.; and eight grandchildren.

Services have been held.

Burial was in Arlington Memorial Gardens, Mount Healthy.

Memorials can be made to The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 800 Vine St., Cincinnati, 45202-2071, or to Hospice of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 633597, Cincinnati, 45263-3597.

E-mail nhamilton@enquirer.com