Beverly Schofield Byrd, 75, of Tifton passed away Thursday, February 11, 2016, at her residence after a brief illness with gastric cancer. Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 14, 2016, at Saint Anne's Episcopal Church in Tifton with the Rev. Ellen Richardson officiating. Mrs. Byrd will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday, February 13, 2016, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Dr. William Hayes, Harvey Hatcher, Dr. Raymond Aldridge, Jamie Cater, Leon Benefield and Jim Lever will serve as pallbearers.
Born August 25, 1940 in Seattle, Washington, Mrs. Byrd was the daughter of the late John M. Schofield and Melba White Schofield Saak. She taught school for 23 years with more than half of those years at Tift County High School. She was respected by her peers and loved by her students. She was a graduate of the University of South Carolina in 1961 and received her Master’s and Specialists degrees from Valdosta State University. She was a member of the Dogwood Garden Club in Tifton for many years and an alumna member of Alpha Xi Delta. She loved playing bridge and was a member of several bridge groups. She had lived in Tifton since 1983.
Mrs. Byrd is survived by her husband, William C. Byrd of Tifton and they had just celebrated their 53rd anniversary on February 9, 2016; a son, Beau Byrd and wife Kathy of Birmingham, Alabama; a daughter, Grace Byrd Morris and husband David of Auburn, Alabama; two brothers, Bill Schofield of Battle Ground, Washington and Bob Schofield of Hartselle, Alabama; and six grandchildren, Gillian Jones Patton, Ryan Jones, Walker Byrd, Carter Byrd, Lainey Morris and Crawford Morris.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the National Audubon Society, Georgia Chapter, 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342; or the American Cancer Society, Tift County Unit, 507 West Third Avenue, Suite 4, Albany, GA 31701.