Gilbert Byrd

Mr. John Gilbert Byrd, 87, of Smoaks, South Carolina entered into eternal rest Friday evening, March 16, 2018.

Funeral services will be held 11 o’clock, Tuesday morning, March 20, 2018 at Smoaks Baptist Church.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Born December 17, 1930 in Orangeburg County, he was a son of the late Joseph Gilbert Byrd and Bernice Young Byrd Goodwin.  He retired from the Savannah River Plant after 42 years of service and served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict.  He was a member of Smoaks Baptist Church and also attended Pinecrest Baptist Church in Charleston.  Mr. Byrd was an avid farmer and was the owner of Five B Quarter Horse Farm.  Most of all, he loved his family and will always be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

He is survived by  his wife of 63 years, Dorothy Smoak Byrd; children, Joseph “Joe” Byrd and his wife Karen of Charleston, and Cathy Miles and her husband Thomas of West Columbia; grandchildren, Katherine Byrd Cellars and her husband Matthew and Karen Jean Byrd; and great grandchildren, Sully and Harper Cellars.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-father who raised him, James Goodwin; and a son, Johnny Byrd.

The family will receive friends Monday evening from 5 until 7 at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, 843.538.5408.  Visit the registry online at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.