Minister Brenda Wright Byrd, 70, of 116 Wright Sims Road, Union, SC entered eternal rest on Tuesday afternoon, February 9, 2016 in the Spartanburg Medical Center. A native of Union County, SC, she was the widow of Councilman Harry Byrd and daughter of Lucille Wright Edwards of the home and the late Elguster Wright, Sr. She was a member and associate minister of Mount Rowell Baptist Church. She was president of the Pacolet River Baptist Association Women’s Ministry and a member and past officer of the Woman's Baptist E&M Convention of SC. She was a member and past Worthy Matron of the Order of Easter Star Floyd Wilkes Chapter #208. She was past secretary of District Number 5 Order of Eastern Star and past Grand Associate Deputy of Union County. She was a 1963 graduate of Sims High School and earned an undergraduate degree from Barber-Scotia College, Concord, NC in 1967. She furthered her education earning a Master’s of Science Degree from Central Connecticut University, New Britain, CT in 1974. She continued focusing on education with additional studies at Converse College, Spartanburg, SC; USC-Columbia, Columbia, SC; College of Charleston, Charleston, SC as well as the NJ Brockman School of Religion, Ministers In Training Institute, 2010. She initially taught at Sims High School before moving to the Hartford, Connecticut School Systems where she taught from 1970-1974. She retired from Union County Schools after a 30+ year career with the local school system. During this time, she also served as an adjunct instructor at USC-Union. She was currently an instructor with the Union County Adult Education Program. Survivors in addition to her mother include two daughters, Brittany Byrd of Fort Mill, SC and Shavonna Watkins-Byrd of Union, SC; one brother, Minister Elgusta (Brenda) Wright, Jr. of Union, SC; one nephew, Darren (Christie) Wright and one niece, Veronica Renee Wright (Tim) Brown both of Greenville,SC; 4 great nieces: Morgan Brown, Makayla Strozier, Jayden Taylor, and Maddison Wright, 1 great nephew: Joshua Brown and a host of cousins, friends, and colleagues. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 13, 2016 at Mount Rowell Baptist Church with burial in the Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the home. In lieu of flower, memorial donations may be made to the Pacolet River Baptist Association Women’s Ministry, c/o Mary Ann Gist, 198 Leroy Gossett Road, Union, SC 29379.
Courtesy of Michael A. Glenn Funeral Home.