MRS. BARBARA L. BYRD

Barbara Catherine Leaphart Byrd was born November 27, 1927 in Waycross, Georgia. She was the fifth of six children to Mr. & Mrs. Harry and Mary Leaphart.

She graduated from the Waycross public schools where she was an outstanding student and basketball player. Mrs. Byrd furthered her education at North Carolina A&T and continued valuing her education and playing basketball. She loved North Carolina A&T and went back every year for homecoming until her health would no longer permit long distant traveling.

Mrs. Byrd married Rev. William Byrd (deceased) and to that union one son was born.

As a child she was a member of the Little Bethel A.M.E. Church in “Old Nine” and later joined Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church. She was a faithful servant and worker. Member of the Trustee Board and was always checking the building, putting railings up, hanging curtains and working in the kitchen.

Mrs. Byrd was a nurse’s helper at the Atlantic Coast Line hospital during the Stockton train wreck in August 1944 on the Atlantic Coast line railroad where forty-seven people were killed and over eighty injured (mostly black laborers) leaving Waycross - returning home to Alabama for the weekend. During that time, it was one of the worst train wrecks ever in this area.

She taught over twenty years at Center High and then became Assistant Principal until retirement. During her teaching years she was the health and physical education instructor and the girl’s basketball coach. Mrs. Byrd was also a charter member of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. She was named Center High School oldest living teacher and oldest living student at the Center High School reunion.

Mrs. Byrd loved shopping, especially shoes and purses. She was strong willed and took a “no nonsense” role in everything she did. She had no problem calling parents or in many cases going by students homes (like she said) when needed. She treasured people and adored teaching, just seeing people brightened her day and brought out her beautiful smile.

Mrs. Byrd was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Harry, William, Marion, Wilbur and sister Bertina Webb.

She is survived by her son, Marcus Byrd; granddaughter, Daffanie “Toy” Byrd; grandson, Seddrick Mitchell; great grandchildren, Tirik Byrd and Anaudia Pressley; sister-in-law, Shirley Hanks Leaphart; a host of nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews, cousins, friend, students, and dearest friend Beverly Pitts.

Services of care and comfort entrusted to the caring professionals of Fluker Funeral Home 985 Ossie Davis Parkway, Waycross, Georgia 31501

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