Melissa and Mark Bryson moved into Historic Brookhaven in 2006 and have been giving back to their chosen community for years. These East Brookhaven Drive residents have both served on the Historic Brookhaven Neighborhood Association (HBNA) board, which Mark now heads as president, and been involved at the city and county levels.

Mark, who retired from his position as a principal at Deloitte Consulting four years ago, is the precinct manager for DeKalb County’s Kittredge Elementary polling site. (Note, the polling site is located at Cary Reynolds Elementary School on East Nancy Creek Drive in the City of Brookhaven – not at the Kittredge Magnet School campus off North Druid Hills Road.) 

“It’s been a pretty interesting experience,” he says. “I heard someone talking about it and volunteered. I asked what they needed, and they said: ‘You can be manager.’ I’ve learned a lot about how elections work.” His team is gearing up for the November presidential elections. 

Melissa was involved in the HBNA’s DeKalb County Planning and Zoning committee and a member of the HBNA board for almost eight years. She also worked on the Brookhaven cityhood initiative and served as an executive board member for the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce, where she helped to promote business development in the city. 

Their commitment to the area is mirrored by their enthusiasm for Historic Brookhaven. “Everything about this neighborhood is just gorgeous,” they say. “It is  wonderful to be ITP [inside the perimeter] and convenient to so many things. The neighbors are wonderful and our little cul-de-sac has the most amazing people.”

In addition to their community involvement, Melissa and Mark have volunteered at their children’s schools (St. Martin’s Episcopal School, Marist School from which daughter Lindsey graduated in 2021, and Pace Academy where Katherine is a rising sophomore). While Mark is retired, Melissa is still working as a commercial real estate broker with Equity Commercial Real Estate Solutions. She primarily focuses on tenant and buyer representation. 

The Brysons live on the quiet cul de sac at the end of East Brookhaven Drive with Lindsey (21), Katherine (15), and Jasper, their five-year-old Australian shepherd. Lindsey is a senior biochemistry major at Georgia Tech. She chaired recruiting for her sorority Kappa Alpha Theta last fall and has taken on the role of vice president for fall 2024 recruitment for all of Tech’s Panhellenic Council. Katherine plays on Paces’ girls flag football team. She began her freshman year as a member of the junior varsity squad and ended on the state playoff varsity team. Their oldest daughters, Callie (34) and Emily (36), live in Carrollton where Mark grew up. 

Melissa is a native Atlantan and attended Riverwood High School. She graduated from Georgia Tech, where she played quarterback on the women’s intramural flag football team that went to state playoffs. “I married the quarterback!,” jokes Mark, who is a University of Georgia graduate and holds a Master of Science in marketing  from Georgia State University.

The Brysons enjoy time at home on their back porch or relaxing on the front porch with neighbors and a beverage. When not in town, they spend as much time as possible at their Hilton Head house where they like to relax on the beach, ride bikes, and boat. This summer, they have planned a month-long vacation to England, Italy, and France. 

As part of his retirement adventure, Mark purchased an Airstream Basecamp travel trailer. He recently took it to the MerleFest music festival in North Carolina. “I’ve always wanted to go,” he says. “I volunteered and spent a long weekend.”

At the holidays, the Brysons celebrate Melissa’s Eastern European/Ukrainian heritage with traditional dishes. Their favorites are langos (a savory potato and spicy cheese bread – Melissa’s version is not fried) and kolache (a sweet and nutty breakfast roll that Melissa makes with pecans and raisins). Every year before Christmas they trek to East Tennessee for a Bryson family reunion.

When at Melissa’s family reunion, they sometimes see her cousin Zac Brown’s dad – yes, that Zac Brown. “His dad and Melissa’s mom are first cousins,” Mark says, noting they haven’t seen Zac since he became famous.

SIDEBAR TO FAMILY SPOTLIGHT

HEAD = HBNA President Mark Bryson Wants Neighbors to Join and Volunteer

Did you know that the Historic Brookhaven Neighborhood Association (HBNA) – not the Brookhaven Security Association – funds the 28 Flock security cameras in our neighborhood? The HBNA-funded and -administered cameras are connected directly to both cities of Atlanta and Brookhaven police patrol cars, including those used by the BSA-hired officers.

The cameras take about half of the association’s budget, according to Mark Bryson, HBNA president. Maintaining and enhancing the neighborhood triangles and parks is the next largest expense for the HBNA, and probably the largest area where it could use more volunteers. 

This year, the Community Maintenance and Enhancement committee will be working to clean invasive species out of Mayson Ravine and establish a plan for Vermont Park. Both areas are maintained as nature preserves, although the City of Atlanta installed stairs in Vermont Park. HBNA, nearby neighbors, and the Club Estates Garden Club will be coordinating to come up with a plan for the park. The City of Atlanta and Park Pride will be involved as well. The neighborhood is also gaining another “pocket park” or triangle at the intersection of Winall Down and Vermont Roads. 

Overall, Mark would like to see more neighbors join and become involved with HBNA. “I encourage all neighbors to go to our website to learn what we do, and to join and contribute and volunteer,” he says. While the HBNA has about 800 members, that represents only about 75% of the households in the neighborhood. “We can funnel the ideas and energy of our neighbors to better the neighborhood,” he notes.

HBNA is also responsible for the Annual Street Party held in September. Mark would like to see the New Neighbor Party reinstituted as a separate social function rather than the current one hour prior to a membership meeting. 

“We live in a really special place, and the HBNA has special role,” he says of the 100% voluntary organization. “The message I want to get across is that we really need neighbors to be HBNA members, pay their dues, and take advantage of opportunities to volunteer and get involved.”

Editor’s Note: To learn more about the HBNA as well as to join and volunteer, visit Historic Brookhaven Neighborhood Association - Home (historic-brookhaven.org)

SIDEBAR TO FAMILY SPOTLIGHT

HEAD = The Brysons’ Favorite Things

Restaurants: exploring almost any type of cuisine/restaurant on Buford Highway; Taqueria Del Sol; Superica; Kyma; Bones Restaurant; Hal’s “The Steakhouse;” Casa Nuova

Sports Teams: Melissa and Lindsey cheer for Georgia Tech while Mark and Katherine support The University of Georgia bulldogs. The whole family loves the Atlanta Braves. Mark is a Premier League Soccer fan, particularly of the Tottenham Hotspurs 

TV shows: Survivor (watching is a family ritual), The Amazing Race, Ted Lasso, Masters of the Air, Slow Horses, Lessons in Chemistry

Music: Melissa’s favorites are Bruce Springsteen and  Zac Brown (he’s her cousin!); Mark likes almost any type of music from bluegrass to classical