BYRD ISABEL "CHAVELA" GALLEGOS was born to Antonio Abade Lyon Gallegos and Manuela Rachel Bertina Espinoza Le Blanc of Colorado. Isabel was orphaned at the tender age of 9, and was raised by her paternal grandmother, Margarita LeBlanc Gallegos. At the age of 16, with the encouragement of her paternal grandmother, Isabel joined the National Youth Administration. A program established by President Roosevelt to train youth in various trades. She received training as a nurse and after moving to Oakland in 1952, she took a job at the first hospital she found. The early experiences she had as a child taught her to work hard and have respect and pride for her culture. She always said, "I had all my children because I experienced so much loneliness after my parents died and I didn't want to sit, like many lonely old people do, staring out the window with no family." Isabel met and married the love of her life Sammie Byrd in 1961 and through marriage and heart, added his children to her list of family. Along with her 5 children from her first marriage, and 2 of their own, they lived happily until Sammie's death in 1979. Isabel continued adding to her family, welcoming and loving, as her own, all of her children's spouses and that love was returned many times over. These unions gave her the gift of 25 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. She lived a long life, surviving breast cancer for 35 years and being miraculously cured of lung cancer in 1972. Isabel was also active in the community. She volunteered for many years with the Reach to Recovery Program and was always open to helping people with breast cancer. Isabel was involved in Teatro Latino and Teatro Triste, small organizations putting on plays about concerns in the Latino Community. She helped run St. Mary's Sr. Center 2 days a week for many years. Isabel was a family storyteller and poet, who left an immense detailed and rich history for her family to enjoy with her grandchildren and great grandchildren for many years to come. Isabel gave her heart to the Lord in 1985. She was an active member of Templo de la Cruz, in Hayward. Isabel ministered to numerous people through her Drama and Street Witnessing ministries. Isabel was called home to the Lord and will be missed by many. Joined in heaven her beloved Sammie Byrd. Isabel leaves behind her children; Carla Martinez de Rios of Hayward, Bertina Escoto of San Lorenzo, Connie Byrd Gallardo of San Leandro, Joel Dimas Martinez of San Jose, Manuel Necolas Martinez of Newark, Samuel Martinez of Oakland, Gregory Byrd of Oakland, Children through marriage and love; Kenneth Byrd of Middleburg, Florida, Marcus, Francis, Paul and David Byrd (all from Oakland), Dwight of Stockton and Sherron Byrd of Arizona Funeral Service will be held April 27, 2003 at 6-10p.m., at Templo de la Cruz, 24362 Thomas, Hayward, CA Burial will be held April 28, 2003 at 12 noon at St. Mary's Cemetery, 4529 Howe St., Oakland, CA.

Alameda Times-Star 4/27/03.