Southampton-Nansemond County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Byrd, W. Curtis, 1935 

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WILLIAM CURTIS BYRD

DEATH OF W. CURTIS BYRD THIS AFTERNOON

   W. Curtis Byrd, 34 years of age, died about 2 o’clock this (Friday) 
afternoon following an illness of more than six months.  For a number of years 
he had been one of the city mail carriers, faithful to duty and well-liked by 
a host of friends.  He was the son of Mrs. J.R. Byrd and the late J.R. Byrd 
and leaves five brothers and one sister.  His brave fight against a fatal 
malady had won the admiration of all who knew him.

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   Funeral rites for William Curtis Byrd, whose death occurred last Friday 
were held Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock from residence of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett 
Byrd with whom he made his home, and conducted by his Pastor, Rev. Roscoe 
Jones of High Street M.E. Church, assisted by Dr. Elwood W. Jones of the 
Christian Church.  In the presence of an unusually large assemblage of 
friends, a brief service was held, J. Edgar Weede, J.S. Collier, Miss Cora 
Vaughan and Miss Sadie Mae Ritt singing "Jesus I Come to Thee."  Burial 
followed in Poplar Spring Cemetery, the active pallbearers being Ezra F. Gray, 
W.R. Atkinson, E.A. Bradshaw, Dr. Beaman Story, Joe Johnson, Robert O. Hayes, 
W.T. Pace, Jr. and W.F. Jones.  Members of the Pythian order acted as honorary 
pallbearers, and the Masonic burial service was held by members of Franklin 
Lodge No. 151 A.F.& A.M., with several Masons from visiting lodges 
participating.  There were a number of handsome floral tributes including 
those sent by the local Masonic lodge, Mt. Nebo Chapter Royal Arch Mason of 
Suffolk, Nottowaters Club and the local post office force.

   William Curtis Byrd, the son of Mrs. Harriett Elizabeth Byrd and the late 
J.R. Byrd, was born in Whaleyville, Va., December 17, 1900*.  Spending the 
greater part of his life in Franklin, he was held in high esteem by a wife 
circle of friends, a young man of exemplary character, genial disposition and 
characterized always by faithfulness and loyalty to his home, his church, the 
fraternal orders with which he affiliated, his friends, and service to the 
Post Office Department.  He entered the postal service October 1, 1920, as a 
city carrier and had served most satisfactorily in that capacity until ill 
health had confined him to his home since June 6, 1934.  Suffering intensely 
during his long illness, he made a courageous fight to regain his health, and 
was bravely hopeful for recovery until the end.

   Mr. Byrd was a member of High Street M.E. Church, of Franklin Lodge No. 151 
A.F. & A.M, of Mt. Nebo Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Suffolk, of Franklin 
Lodge No. 51, Knights of Pythias, and of the American Legion, serving with 
Company "I" of Franklin in the army for a short time during the World War.  He 
was a charter member of Nottowaters Club, the popular fishing and hunting club 
organized here about four years ago.

   He was survived by his mother, Mrs. J.R. Byrd; five brothers, Oscar, Emmett 
and Eddie Byrd of this town, Alfred Byrd of Murfreesboro and Jesse Ray Byrd of 
Washington; by one sister, Mrs. C.P. Kreticson of Washington, several nieces 
and nephews, a large family connection in Nansemond County, and by many 
friends.


William Curtis BYRD, Franklin mail carrier, 
b. 1900*, Whaleyville, d. 11 Jan 1935, Franklin, age 34, 
interred in Poplar Spring Cemetery (Annex 2, Plot 20*), Franklin, 
   13 Jan 1935, 
"The Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Jan. 11, 1935, p. 1; 
"The Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Jan. 18, 1935, p. 5 

*The cemetery list and his death certificate both give b. 3 May 1900. 
   Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, 
   Poplar Spring list: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/psanx2.txt 

He died of blood poisoning, complicated by kidney disease.  An abstract of 
   his death certificate (1935-1418-2646) is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/vitals/deaths/b630w1dc.txt 

The obit ("Tidewater News," Mar. 26, 1937) for his mother is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/b630h4ob.txt 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/b630c6ob.txt