BYRD, Gary Mitchell "Mickey," of Mechanicsville, passed away peacefully in his home on Friday, February 24, 2017. His life began on August 11 in Erlanger, a small community of Lexington, North Carolina. Mickey was the youngest of three children born to Carl and Gladys Byrd. He attended Lexington Senior High School and was a star athlete, excelling at football. After a three-year stint in the Marine Corps, Mickey received a football scholarship to Wofford College where he earned his B.S. in Education and Psychology. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mildred "Millie"; and their four children, Micki Lea Dunn, Mitchell Byrd and wife, Aimee, Jason Byrd and wife, Christi, and Megan Byrd Hall; grandchildren, Kaitlin, Christian, Austin, Xander, Camden, Skylar and Brayden; daughter, Catherine Byrd Robinson and husband, Mark; grandchildren, Cole and Jesse; great-grandchild, Cole Journey; along with his sister, Doris Heitman of Lexington, North Carolina; several nieces, nephews, and life-long friends. Mickey was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Carl "Pete" Byrd. Coach Byrd taught high school for 35 years, 20 of those as a teacher and baseball coach at Lee-Davis High School in Mechanicsville. After retirement, he continued to teach Driver's Ed Behind-The-Wheel, work part-time at Enterprise Leasing, and practice his golf game. Mr. Byrd attended Broadus Memorial Baptist Church and was a man of faith who loved God, his family, friends, students, baseball players and life. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 1, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee-Davis Road. The funeral service will be held in the chapel at Bennett's on Thursday, March 2, 2017, at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Signal Hill Memorial Park in Hanover, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the "Coach Mickey Byrd Memorial Baseball Scholarship" fund.