Florice Claudine (Claudia) Bryant, 89, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away February 14, 2023, at Wabash General Hospital, in Mount Carmel, Illinois.

She was born May 21, 1933, in Mount Carmel, Illinois, to Royal and Capitola (Jones) Toombs, stepmother, Dora (Spond) Toombs. Her mother passed away when she was very young and she was raised by her father’s sister, Flossie (Toombs) Woods and John Woods. Claudia graduated from Mount Carmel High School in 1952, she married the love of her life Doyle Denver Bryant on December 6, 1952, in Mount Carmel, Illinois.

Claudia worked at the Phone Company as a Switchboard Operator. She later worked for Pacific Press and Shear for several years as a Receptionist and later in the Payroll Department, retiring in 1985. She made many lifelong friends while working there. Claudia was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Mount Carmel, Illinois for 80 plus years, where she was active in the Women’s Mission Society and also sang in the choir and played piano.

Early in life, Claudia and her sweetheart, Doyle enjoyed roller skating, and belonged to a Square Dance Club. Claudia also took up crocheting and enjoyed preparing holiday dinners for the family. They traveled to see the grandchildren participate in various sports and competitions and took short trips with family and friends. Babysitting and spoiling the grandchildren was their favorite past time. Regularly Claudia enjoyed luncheons with ladies from church and coworkers from the Phone Company.

Claudia moved to the Villas of Holly Brook in May 2022. There she reconnected with friends from high school and some coworkers. She enjoyed dining with “her girls” at the center and playing Bingo, and fell in love with the staff at Holly Brook.

Left to Cherish Claudia’s Memory are her two daughters: Deb (Dave) Kirk of Melbourne, FL, and Leesa Guisewite (Fiancé Dennis Bane) of Patoka, IN. Her five grandchildren: Kristi (Chad) Qualls of Evansville, IN, Ryan (Ashley) Kirk of Prairie Village, KS, Derek (Cassandra) Guisewite of Mt. Carmel, IL, Kassi (Chris) Virgin of Evansville, IN, Amanda Guisewite of Ft. Branch, IN and friend Beth Hatton. Great-Grandchildren: Dylan & Jillian Qualls of Evansville, IN, Bently Guisewite of Ft. Branch, IN, Brantley, Colt and Payton Guisewite of Mt. Carmel, IL. Nieces and nephews: Taunya Campbell, Maxine Rosignol, Carol Lee Spond, Harold Spond, Delores Peach, Susie Taylor.

Claudia had several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins with whom she was close.

 Preceding her in death are her parents, brother Bobby Toombs, two sisters, Frieda June DeGenerro and Berneathia Hayes, and Norma Jean Toombs.

 Visitation will be held in the Chapel of Short-Cunningham Funeral Home Tuesday, February 21, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. until the service following at 2:00 p.m.  Following the service, she will be laid to rest at Highland Memorial Cemetery.

 Memorials can be made to First General Baptist Church, 120 W 12th St., Mount Carmel, Illinois 62863. There will also be envelopes available at the service.

 Condolences may be sent to www.short-cunninghamfh.com

Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve Claudia’s family.