Dr. Ralph Joseph Bryson was a resident of Montgomery, AL. He transitioned on February 12, 2022. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. rites (private ceremony) will be held Tuesday, February 22, 2022 from 6-7 p.m. and public visitation from 7-8 p.m. at True Divine Baptist Church, 4601 Troy Hwy., Montgomery, AL 36116. The body will lie in state from 10 a.m. until the funeral service at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at True Divine Baptist Church, Rev. Steven Huntley, Pastor. Rev. Cromwell Handy, Pastor, Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will be at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, OH. Due to COVID-19 Restrictions, FACE MASK REQUIRED. Dr. Ralph Joseph Bryson was born the son of Rass and Annie Bryson in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 10th day of September 1922. He and his sister, Dorothy Louise Bryson Lowe (deceased) grew up in Madisonville, Ohio. During his childhood he learned to play the piano and became an avid bridge player. He is a graduate of Withrow High School. While completing his Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Cincinnati in 1947, he was employed at a newspaper printing press, his interests for the written word grew into a great passion. During his studies, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during WWII where he read maps and participated in the Battle of the Bulge, which aided in the liberation of Southern France. He was part of the invasion of Europe 1944 and served as a member of the 43rd Transport Battalion. Then he earned a Master of Education Degree 1950 and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in 1952 from The Ohio State University. Dr. Bryson accepted Christ at an early age. He joined Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, now known as Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist, in 1953 where he served faithfully as: an usher, ministry leader of the September Birthday Club, an avid supporter of all ministry programs and events including the Tourism Ministry. Dr. Bryson was a colleague of various Civil Rights icons. Dr. Bryson had a valuable friendship with the icon Mrs. Jo Ann Robinson, who helped to begin The Montgomery Bus Boycott. Dr. Bryson was always willing to cheerfully share his eyewitness accounts of The Modern Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Bryson began his career in education, as a middle school English teacher, in North Carolina. Then he taught at Southern University and at Miles College as a professor of English literature. But since 1953 he spent most of his years at Alabama State University where he participated as an acting Department Chair and as a professor of African American Literature. Dr. Bryson served a 59-year tenure at Alabama State University; before retiring in 2012. He was honored as Professor of Emeritus and when requested, Dr. Bryson continued to serve Alabama State University. Dr. Bryson mentored many students. He published numerous empirical works. Dr. Bryson participated on standardized test committees in order to make sure that various standardized testing companies do not subjectively discriminate against students, as learners, by the use of ‘othering’ students of color through the use of written and unwritten language. Dr. Bryson was a Grand Historian of Kappa Alpha Psi, (1997-2011). He was the 64th Laurel Wreath Laureate and the 56th Elder Watson Diggs Awardee. He has served as a mentor to countless Kappa Alpha Psi brothers. He was the second editor of the “Books and Such,” column for The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal (1969-1982), and the author of the 5th edition of, “The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi, as well as the coauthor The History of the Southern Province” (1997). Dr. Bryson donated an office building, The Dr. Ralph J. Bryson Computer Laboratory, to use within the Bryson Community Center as well as a house to the fraternity. Dr. Bryson has earned the highest honors from his beloved Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. His professional honors include scholarships on the behalf of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated as well as scholarships on the behalf of the University of Cincinnati and The Ohio State University. Such scholarships are as given: College of Education and Human ecology; The Bryson Endowment Scholarship, The Ohio State University, College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services and Information Technology, University of Cincinnati, Bryson Endowed Scholarship. Dr. Bryson was preceded in death by his parents, Rass and Annie Bryson; his sister, Dorothy Louise Bryson Lowe and grandniece Dorothy-Ann Beatrice “Trissie” Lowe. He is survived by: his nephew, Benjamin Sparkman Lowe, Jr.; niece-in-law Marion Margaret Roach Lowe; grandnieces: Clarissa Heather Roach Lowe and Margaret-Ann Nicole Lowe, as well as great grandniece, Mariah Ariel Lowe. He will be greatly missed by all. In lieu of flowers the family of Dr. Bryson asks that donations be made in his honor to the national, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.