Samantha Gayle Bryant, 31, of the Lumbee Tribe, was permanently taken off of this earth sometime after June 28, 2023, when she went missing. Her body was found on Aug. 7, 2023, buried in the backyard of her boyfriend’s home, in Rowland, North Carolina. Samantha will get justice.
Samantha was smart and fierce, but she was silly too. She was born with rhythm and would out-dance anyone. She was a loving, loud, and an outspoken woman. She got that from her mother, Deborah Cabe (Jesse), and her father, Brynner “Dean” Porter.
Samantha never had a dull moment with her siblings, Amy Clark, Joshua Bryant, Shelton “Gene” Porter, and Corinthia Porter. Samantha’s greatest blessings were her precious children, Angel Porter, Lillianna Porter, Sean Dennison, and Vicki Rickard. Samantha is now protected in Heaven by her Grandma Louise “Weezy” Moses, and great-grandma Pride Porter. She was the funniest auntie to Izaiyah Smith, Amiyah Bryant, Rynessa Bryant, Izaic Smith, Elliani Bryant and Jax Bryant.
On Saturday, Aug. 19, we will celebrate Samantha’s life at Lumber River State Park at 2 p.m. We will also be advocating for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. We are seeking to end violence against Indigenous women who are being murdered 10 times more than all other ethnicities. Samantha was found, not in the way we hoped, but there are hundreds of Indigenous women still missing in the United States and Canada. No closure or justice can come until we find them. Red attire is encouraged.
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank everyone that helped search for Samantha while she was missing. It is truly appreciated and does not go unnoticed.
