BYRD, Isaac (1935)

In Memory of Isaac Byrd

Died Nov. 27, 1935

Isaac Byrd, 88, pioneer citizen of Rhea County and one of the few remaining veterans of the War Between the States, died on Wednesday, Nover 27, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Betty Worthington, at Old Washington. Funeral services were held from the Washington Baptist Church at 10 O’Clock Sunday, the Rev. I. M. Rainey officiating. Interment in Montgomery Cemetery. Members of the American Legion served as pallbearers. Coulter’s in charge.

He was born in Blount County, Tennessee, April 24th, 1847 and died November 27th, 1935. His age was 88 years, 7 months and 3 days. On September8, 1864 as a young man scarcely more than a boy he joined the Union Army, serving until the end of the civil war and receiving an honorable discharge July 27, 1865. Having been converted while a young man he became a different type of soldier, “a Soldier of the Lord,” and joined the Baptist Church of which he has been a faithful member for more than half a century. Much of that time he has served as clerk of the Church or in some other active place.

On April 6, 1869, he was united in marriage to Nancy Hare, who was a devout Christian women, and their home, which was soon established in Rhea County, became a religious center of the town of Washington.

Daddy Byrd (as he was often called) was a man of systematic habits, of great courage and determination, loyal to his party, his friends his loved ones and his Church.

He has expressed many times lately his readiness to go and meet his Maker and be reunited with his wife and three children, who departed this life several years ago.

He set his earthly business also in order, even planning certain parts of his funeral and requesting that if a stone marker his grave it bear these words: “The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want,”

His life still speaks and will continue to speak in this community.

He leaves to mourn his loss, nine children: N. C., Bettie, Samantha, Vira, Bud, William, Rector and Robert. Also forty grandchildren and fifty great-grandchildren. Other relatives and a host of friends.

Submitted by Carol Byrd Great-Grandaughter (born 1954)