Mayda Jewell Byrd, age 93, passed away on December 18, 2013 comfortably with her family at her side in Springfield, VA.
Born October 7, 1920 in Kentucky to Murry and Effie Bishop, she moved to Greenville, TX where she lived as a child. She later moved to Dallas where she lived with her husband of 42 years, Moreland Byrd, who passed away in 1988. After her husband’s death she moved to Springfield, VA to be near family.
Her three children, Sherrie Smith of W. Tawakoni, TX, Geannie Wells of Springfield, VA, and Moreland Byrd of Emory, TX survive her. Five grandchildren, Micah Coram, Mia Kirkland, Natalie Maxfield, Roger Wells, and Andrew Wells also survive her as well as seven great grandsons: Carson, Owen, Dylan, Beck, Grayson, Mason, and Tyler. She is also survived by her sister, Anna R. Bench of Denton, TX. Mayda was preceded in death by four sisters: Marie, Ethel, Lavenia, and Murry.
Mayda had a gentle spirit and her faith in God sustained her throughout her life. She exhibited a remarkable sense of empathy and compassion for others and was a nurturing and kind person. She lived her life with an unwavering dedication and love for her family that was felt deeply by her children, grandchildren, and great grandsons.
In addition to spending time with family, Mayda loved to spend her time practicing her faith (either attending church or in later years through religious programs and recordings). She also loved a good game of bridge with friends, a hot cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll daily at precisely 11am at Luby’s Cafeteria, quilting, and long road trips across the U.S. to visit family.
Her strength, her will to live, her dedication to her family and perhaps a bit of stubbornness was seen over the last few years as she hung on through many physical challenges to stay with us just a little longer. For that, her family is eternally grateful.
Words cannot express the deep loss her family feels without her physical presence in this world. Comfort is found knowing her spiritual presence is strong and she will be watching over us from above. We will all feel her presence reminding us to treat others with the level of compassion and love that she did.