Beth Mardie Bryant

Beth Mardie Bryant (neé Canham) left this world on the last day of summer, September 21, 2026. Mardie was born in Arlington, Virginia on August 17, 1950 to Burt and Betty Canham. She was named after her grandmothers, Marjorie and Goldie, giving her a unique middle name, “Mardie”, which she went by, fulfilling the originality of her moniker.

The Canham’s had six sons: Bruce, Johnny, Barry, Brad, Brian, and Ben; Mardie was their only daughter. Her dad, Burt, was her kindred spirit, and she even ended up with his signature stunning white hair later in life. Mardie’s childhood and school-age years were spent in the Washington D.C. area. Often she would tell stories of driving around with her brothers and friends on summer nights. She would speak fondly of her close high school friends for the rest of her life.

After graduating from Crossland High School in 1968, Mardie remained in Washington D.C. and earned her associate’s degree. Eventually, she joined her family in their relocation to Edmond, OK, where she enrolled full time at Oklahoma Christian College. It was at Oklahoma Christian where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and met her future husband, Jim. Most importantly, however, this was where she discovered the foundation for the rest of her life: her love for God and dedication to her faith.

Mardie married Jim Bryant at her parent’s home in Edmond, OK on May 22, 1976. The newlyweds took a week-long honeymoon, with their first stop being Big Spring, TX. After attending a church service in El Paso, they went on their next adventure to Carlsbad Caverns. Jim and Mardie always enjoyed traveling as a family, and would take cross-country road trips that would include Yellowstone Bible Camp and the beaches of Virginia nearly every year. The couple celebrated their milestone 50th wedding anniversary in 2026 with friends and family.

Having five brothers helped prepare Mardie for one of her most important roles: a dedicated boy mom to Nathan, Daniel, and Jesse. In addition to her husband and brothers, Mardie’s three sons were the joy of her life. While the boys were young, she treasured the opportunity to be a full-time mom. As the boys got older, Mardie worked as a teacher’s aide in a special-needs classroom, bringing her talents and affectionate nature to her students, some of whom she lovingly cared for up until her final year. This job also gave her the opportunity to spend summers and holidays with her boys, and that was where she found her greatest happiness.

Mardie always had a heart for fostering children, so Jim and Mardie eagerly welcomed the opportunity to foster three young siblings. Not long after, the Bryant family grew again when Jim and Mardie officially adopted Jacob, Adam, and Elisabeth in 2004, with Mardie finally getting her little girl. A few years later, Mardie became a “Gramma” and dedicated as much time as she could to her twelve grandchildren: Wyatt, Hudson, Cullen, Hazel, Henry, Eleanor, Esther, Emmett, Cecil, Indiana, Owen, and Montana. She was so proud of all of her grandchildren, and always wanted them to know that she loved them “all the way to heaven.”

Mardie loved her family, and this included those she worshiped with at the Waterloo Road church of Christ. She loved every one of them “with the love of the Lord”, and knew how much they loved her in return. Throughout her time at Waterloo Road, Mardie volunteered in many ways, most notably in creating the church bulletin, which she was lovingly dedicated to for over 25 years. Mardie will be missed by those whose lives she touched over her 76 years on this earth, but we know she lived her life always thinking about the souls of others, wanting those outside of Christ to know the joy, hope, and peace that can only be found through Jesus.

Mardie was preceded in death by her father, Burt and her brother, Johnny. She is survived by her mother, Betty, her five brothers: Bruce, Barry, Brad, Brian, and Ben, her husband, Jim, and her children Nathan (Katie), Daniel (Holly), Jesse (Jillian), Jacob, Adam and Elisabeth (Owen).

“I love you. Drive safe, don’t speed, and watch out for deer.”

Services will be held at Waterloo Road church of Christ, 4404 E. Waterloo Rd. Edmond, OK 74034 on Saturday, October 3rd at 10:00 a.m.