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The Shreveport Times

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Troy Bryant Yopp, Jr.

Stonewall Cemetery

STONEWALL, LA - Funeral services celebrating the life of Troy Bryant Yopp, Jr., 70, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 18, 2009 at Salem Baptist Church in Stonewall, LA. Officiating will be Rev. Stan MaGee. Interment will follow in Stonewall Cemetery, Stonewall, LA.

Visitation with the family will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Saturday October 17, 2009 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Southside.

Bryant was born on January 16, 1939 in New Orleans, LA to Lydia and Bryant Yopp, Sr. He passed away on October 14, 2009 in Shreveport after a brief illness. He was a resident of Stonewall, LA and a member of Salem Baptist Church. He was CEO for Shreveport Moving and Storage. Bryant served his community faithfully, serving as a volunteer for DeSoto Fire Dept. District 3, the DeSoto Parish Town council for 3 terms, past president of the Chief Executive Officers of Shreveport, past president and active member of the DeSoto Parish Police Jury, past chairman of the DeSoto Parish EMS and was an honorary special DeSoto Deputy. Bryant honorably served his country in the U.S. Marines.

Mention the name of Bryant Yopp within the contest of Masonic Shrinedom begs one to ask, "Where do you begin and where do you end". You can belong to many Masonic organizations and may claim to have met men who were vitally instrumental to the brotherhood. That being said, one must consider Bryant Yopp's service to the Shrine of North America to be a superlative example. Bryant was an active mason for 41 years. His Masonic career began in 1968 when he was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Martin McClanahan Lodge #384 located in Bossier City, LA. He went on to become a lifetime member of the Lodge. From that beginning he traveled through the mysteries of the fraternity by becoming a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason in the valley of Shreveport, LA. Bryant became a perpetual member of that organization and in tribute for his service thereto was in 2001, invested with the rank and title of Knight in Ascension Commandery #6.

In 1969 Bryant was created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine and joined the ranks of El Karubah Shrine Center of Shreveport. It was there where he found the organization he truly loved, on which would become fertile ground for his fraternal labors and it was there where he found serenity in his call as a charitable man, a call to help children. He served as Potentate of El Karubah Shrine Center in 2001. From there he tendered further service to the Shrine of North America as an Imperial Aid to several Imperial Potentates. Illustrious Sir Yopp made many public appearances for the organization including testifying before the United States Congress on behalf of Shriners Hospitals for Children. A lifetime El Karubah Sandman (Directors Staff), he went on to become President of the Shrine Directors Association of North America.

Bryant's dedication to the Shreveport Shriners Hospital was easily his greatest service to any of the fraternal organizations to which he belonged. He was an active member of the Board of Governors for 9 years, serving that board as Secretary, Vice Chairman and in 1998-1999 as Board Chairman. At the time of his passing, he served on the Applications Committee, the Performance Improvement Committee, and as Chairman of the Public Relations Committee. This is where you could find most of his extra time which was devoted to such, he truly loved the Shriners Hospitals, you could see the glow around him when he talked of such, the gleam in his eye with the smile on his face when such was mentioned. He served on many committees at the Shriners Hospital helping make things bigger and better as the years rolled on.

In the appendant bodies of the Shrine, Bryant was a charter member of the "Order of the Quetzalcoatl-Cholula Teocalli 133 Shreveport, LA, and order devoted to transporting needy patients to Shriners Hospitals for care. He served the order as Camaxli (president) and as "Association Camaxli". He was past Director of the Royal Order of Jesters Court 26 and what a "jolly jester" he was, he never brought a frown with him, always and only a smile, a laugh, a word of joy and he would leave you with all as he walked away. Bryant was also past President and lifetime member of El-Karubah's Sandman unit. He also was a regular traveling member of the Shriners RV club.

Bryant Yopp was a positive man, a family man that loved much, he was a brother, a warrior, a mirthful man, a legend of the Shrine, and a heck of a mentor, but most of all he was a friend, whether you knew him for 15 minutes or all your life, he was your friend. In the Masonic organizations you could always witness him giving much credit to the ladies/wives of the men who belonged to such. He would always say that we men could not have made it this far if we did not have the help of our spouses, especially his beloved wife of 45 years, Annice.

Bryant will be sorely missed by all who knew him, and fondly remembered. As many of us have heard him say so many times when we thought it was bad, you could hear the words from him of "Hey dude, look, don't sweat the small stuff…."

Bryant was preceded in death by his parents, his maternal grandparents, Ira T. Yopp and Hattie B. Midgett, paternal grandparent, J.B. Darby and Maggie McFerren, granddaughter, Amber Danielle Singletary. Left to cherish the wonderful memory of him is his loving wife, Annice Craig Yopp; sons, Danny Roy Singletary, Marcus Gene Singletary and Troy B. (Bubba) Yopp, III.; granddaughters, Lydia Ann Singletary Clouse and husband, Guy J., and Sarah Lynn Singletary Coleman and husband Keith L; six grandchildren; brother-in-law, Ross Thompson and wife, Murlene; cousins, one niece and numerous friends.

Pallbearers will be Steve Baird, Bradley Sepulvado, Rodney Arbuckle, Greg Baker, Chuck Penn and Frank Stevens; honorary pallbearers will be Willard Brown, Dray Darby, Danny Roy Singletary, Marcus Gene Singletary, and Troy B. (Bubba) Yopp, III.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children or Salem Baptist Church Building Fund. Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Southside Chapel (318) 687-1256