Obituary of Mickey Byrd

Hubert Wilson Byrd ?Mickey? Mr. Byrd, 65, peacefully passed away at his home in Charlotte on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012 after a battle with cancer. Son of Christenbury J. Byrd and Eleanor Black Byrd, Mickey was born in Charlotte on December 18, 1946 and lived his early years in the Dilworth neighborhood. He is survived by his sister, Mary Byrd Dowd; nephew, Chris Dowd; nieces, Jennifer Dowd Gomes, and Catherine Dowd; a brand new grandniece, Olivia Marie Gomes. Mickey was a 1965 graduate of Myers Park High School, attended Auburn University during his freshman year, and transferred to UNC Chapel Hill where he graduated with a BS in Political Science. He then taught Social Studies in the Craven County Schools before returning home to care for both of his ailing parents. Mickey was a quiet man, well-read and extremely precise in all that he said and did. He was the ?historian? of his family and relished recalling minute facts of long ago. His family were some of the original members of The Church of the Holy Comforter when it was first located on South Boulevard, and he had early documents and an oral history of the church where he was a life-long active member. Mickey was also interested in astronomy and he volunteered as treasurer for the Charlotte Amateur Astronomer?s Club. During the last few years, he developed a love of Rugby and followed team in the area as well as in England. His last excursion was attending a rugby match at Providence High School. Mickey had a firm faith that buoyed him through his often-times difficult life, and he deeply appreciated the love and kindness he received from his church family. He was a unique man and the lives of his circle of close friends are indelibly marked by knowing Mickey Byrd. A service to celebrate Mickey?s life will be held at 2:00pm on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at The Church of the Holy Comforter, 2701 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28209. Following the service, burial will take place in Mary Love Cemetery in Hamlet, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Church of the Holy Comforter Endowment Fund, 2701 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28209.