James Bryan

JAMES M. BRYAN

James M. Bryan, 76, passed away Saturday, August 16, 2025 at his Palatka residence following a brief illness.

Born in the old Glendale Hospital in Palatka, James had been a lifelong resident of Putnam County. As a youth, James helped his family work their small dairy farm off South Palm Avenue where several large cedar trees lined the side of the road in front of their property. The dairy was aptly named “Cedar Dairy”—the only dairy in the county that delivered fresh, unpasteurized milk to customers without any public health violations.

James was a 1967 graduate of Palatka Senior High School where he played in the band. He served honorably in the U.S. Army as a military policeman. After his military service, he worked as a quality control technician for the Georgia-Pacific paper mill (formerly Hudson Pulp & Paper). He also owned and operated Jaguar Jim’s Graphics and produced quality graphics for many people, including the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. He had attended the Macedonia Baptist Church in Carraway, where he played the piano for 20 years. He loved anything musical and in his leisure time, enjoyed watching movies on his computer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Agnes Bryan.

Surviving are his brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Jean Bryan; a sister and brother-in-law, Deborah and Fred Hinton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Masters Funeral Home in Palatka with Pastor Melvin Hall officiating. The United States Army will bestow military honors. Friends may call after 10:00 a.m.—an hour before the start of the service. Burial of ashes will be at a later date in Sharon Baptist Church Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Bread of Life, P.O. Box 1183, Palatka, Florida 32177. Messages of sympathy may be shared on James’ online tribute page at: themastersfuneralhome.com.

Masters Funeral Home of Palatka is in charge of arrangements.