I am trying to obtain the history of Bryant, MS. It is or was near the towns of Water Valley, Paris, Banner and Springdale. I think all but Water Valley are now just little spots with very few inhabitants. At one time they appear to have been booming. On the Memorial Garden Cemetery Marker it states that. "Freed slave descendants of the Reese, Shipp, Pearson and Steen families are buried here. In Bryant, they built a school, grist mill and black smith shop , etc." I have found (and posted) labor contracts for freedpeople from both Carolinas and Georgia to be transported to Mississippi. I am wondering if this was an all black settlement. Anyone heard of it or any "Freetowns" in the area of Yalobusha, Calhoun or Lafayette Counties. They all meet in the Water Valley area! Thanks, Joyce