Featured photo: Bryant ‘BB’ Nolden
Written by Tanya Terry
Genesee County Commissioner for the 1st District Bryant Nolden has died a sudden death at age 57. Nolden was also known for serving as executive director of the Friends of Berston Field House. He had participated in a commission committee meeting not long before dying in his vehicle.
Charles Winfrey, 2nd District Genesee County Commissioner, knew Nolden since he was a child.
“When I first met him he was probably 8 or 9 years old,” Winfrey said.
Winfrey added Nolden used to beat him in chess.
Winfrey and Nolden’s dad, Willie ‘Sokita’ Nolden, were good friends. According to Winfrey, they “grew up in the streets of Flint together.”
Winfrey described Nolden’s sudden death on Dec. 7 as “shocking” and “devastating.”
“We had attended a board meeting,” Winfrey explained. “We would sit next to each other at board meetings as 1st District and 2nd District commissioners. We did our usual joking around and talking back and forth. After the meeting, we went to his office and continued to joke around and talk some more. We had talked about going to breakfast, but everyone discovered they had other things to do. So, we didn’t get to do that. I just really pray that we had. Maybe we could have done something to help him.”
Winfrey pointed out Nolden died after an incident which happened when he was alone in his vehicle.
Nolden died an hour or so after the meeting.
“He had a bad heart. They could not resuscitate him.”
Nolden had indicated he didn’t feel well at the meeting.
Community activist Art Woodson was at the meeting.
“He was joking with Bryant because Bryant went straight to his seat and sat down. Mr. Woodson asked, ‘You’re not speaking to me today?’ That’s when Bryant said he hadn’t been feeling well. That was the first indication to me he was not feeling well. Then, he mentioned he had not been feeling well all weekend.”
Winfrey stated Nolden, known as ‘BB,’ has been a go-getter all his life.
“I think he got that passed down from his father. He was always trying to lift himself higher. He was a goal-setter, and once he achieved a goal, he established new goals. He was just an all-around fighter for good-for the good of the community, for the good of county government, for the good of his family. He was just an all-around good guy.”
Nolden graduated from Flint Central High School and Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. He was a teacher with the Flint Community Schools from 1992 to 2014.
He was 3rd Ward Flint City Councilman prior to his election to the County Board of Commissioners.
Winfrey said the loss of Nolden will leave a huge gap in the community.
“For a city with a depressed economy, with all the negativity that’s going on in the city, Bryant and what he was doing with his life, with Berston Fieldhouse and the vision he had for this community is just going to leave a huge hole in our community’s leadership.”
“My heart aches,” said Vice Chairperson Ellen Ellenburg, who serves as District 3 County Commissioner.
“BB dedicated his life to making Flint & Genesee County a better place,” Ellenburg added. “From educating our youth as a teacher, to serving on the Flint City Council, his work at Berston, and his time on the Board of Commissioners, we are all better because of BB. I will personally miss his laugh, his infectious smile, and his ability to bring all sides together for the common good. Such a sad day.”
