fbpx

Ja’Khari Bryant is from Trenton, population 238

The Morehead-Cain scholar grew up on the same road with most of his extended family.

By Scott Jared, University Communications

Ja'Khari Bryant posing for a photo with his arms crossed. He's on a sidewalk next to a street and is wearing a Carolina blue UNC-Chapel Hill sweatshirt. Off to the right is graphic text reading:

A first-year student, Ja’Khari Bryant is a Morehead-Cain scholar who plans to enroll in Carolina’s School of Nursing. He’s also majoring in human development and family science in the School of Education and serves as concert manager and sings baritone for the Clef Hangers.

His hometown of Trenton, 17 miles west of New Bern, is still recovering from flooding after 2018’s Hurricane Florence. Bryant’s family moved out while their house was rebuilt. Others couldn’t rebuild and left.

Editor’s note: Tar Heels come from communities of all sizes, some of them tiny. In the Small Town Spotlight series, Carolina students share photos of meaningful places and people back home.

Bryant lived in Trenton until his junior year in high school, then attended the School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, North Carolina.

Map of North Carolina with a pin and text denoting the location of Trenton, N.C.

Below, Bryant shares photos and thoughts about his hometown.

Close-up, nighttime photo of green street signs for First Avenue and 200 N. King St.

I grew up on First Avenue. It’s the only home that I’ve ever known, and most of my family live on this road. When people think about Trenton or the Haiti community that I live in, they think of First Avenue. Every year we host a Haiti Day and invite everyone who grew up there to come out with their families and spend time with one another. That’s like home.

Nighttime photo of the front window of Trenton Town Hall. A lit-up Christmas Tree is seen, as is a Nutcracker display.

During the Christmas season, the Town Hall and downtown are decorated. When the town hosts the annual parade, Santa’s in there and everyone can go in and get their pictures taken. I went to the parade when I was little. Later I was in the parade, which was fun.

Ja'Khari Bryant taking a selfie in his family's living room with six relatives seen hanging out in the background.

My family gets together each year for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Usually we gather at my granddad’s house. Sometimes we play games. Sometimes we sit around and tell stories and joke and enjoy family time. I’m here with my cousin Diamond; her mother, Iana Martin; my uncle Johnathan Bryant; aunt Ashley Bryant; my mom, Anyotta Bryant; my grandma Angela Bryant; and my brother Marques.

Brock Mill Pond on a sunny day.

This is at Brock Mill Pond. A mill has been there since the 1700s. They have Christmas events, like opening on the night of the parade and having apple cider. They’ll have a hayride from downtown to the mill pond. It’s just a fun place to go.

Ja'Khari taking a selife with his mother in their home.

This is me with my mom. She’s my best friend. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2020, and after chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, has been cancer free for almost three years. She’s also a graduate of Strayer University.

Exterior of King’s Chapel Freewill Baptist Church.

This is King’s Chapel Freewill Baptist Church. From this church, you can see St. Stephen’s Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ. Both churches played a significant part in my upbringing. The church is where I started singing. I had family that attended each church. If you were to ask my mom where I was, she’d say, “At whatever church door is open.”

Jones Street in downtown Trenton. Cars are parked along the road on a sunny day. Christmas wreaths are seen hanging on street poles.

Downtown on Jones Street, there’s Town Hall, an antique store and a chiropractor’s office and a restaurant called 1784 Cafe, named after the year Trenton was established. The tallest building there is Realo drugstore. In one building, barber students from the Trenton campus for Lenoir County Community College give haircuts.

Close-up photo of a sign for a restaurant called "Aggie's Pizza & Subs".

I don’t eat at Aggie’s often, but when I’m back, it’s a must. If you return when Aggie’s isn’t open, it’s like, “I had no purpose to come home.” Even if my brothers come for Thanksgiving or Christmas, they’re like, “I know we’re going to eat, but I’m going to Aggie’s first.”

Ja'Khari Bryant wearing a Carolina Blue UNC-Chapel Hill sweatshirt and posing with his arms crossed while standing on a sidewalk across the street from a courthouse.

I took school field trips to the Jones County Courthouse, in a health science class, just to learn more about ethics. I’ve also taken kids from summer camp to the courthouse so they can see the inside and meet the people there. They got to sit in the courtroom.