During World War II, Mr. Byrd volunteered for the Army while touring New York with friends from his home state of Georgia. He passed away in Gastonia on December 15 at the age of 104. According to his daughter Jacqueline Byrd, he saw a chance to escape the brutal racism of the South and set himself up for a better future, but he also saw it as a matter of patriotism.
She said he lived through World War II. He lived to witness his father being lynched by a white mob as he was hanging in his front yard in front of his siblings.
One of the oldest World War II soldiers in North Carolina, Mr. Byrd passed away. After leaving the Army, he had a modest life, but his kids wanted to honor and value his heritage and service.
Shirley Byrd Mungo, the second oldest of his seven children, stated, “Even when my sister and I tried to organize his service, we thought we don’t need a bunch of fancy hoopla, because he’s 104 and all his siblings are deceased.” He had a few deceased nieces and probably nephews, so I suppose they could accurately tell his story, but they are all gone. I want people to know a little bit more about him. He was present and had an impact—not just on us.
According to Jacqueline Byrd, “He made a difference.” He was significant to his family and a group of friends, even though he wasn’t quite a celebrity.
One of ten siblings, Mr. Byrd was born on May 7, 1920, a time when women were not allowed to vote and alcohol was prohibited by federal law. From 1943 to 1945, when Black servicemen were primarily assigned to service duties by law and custom, he worked as a cook in the Army in Italy. In everyday life, however, feeding his company was a realistic necessity.
According to Jacqueline, he was a big cook. We all, including ourselves, loved his food. He was capable of cooking—better than our mother, in fact. We were like, “Oh, this is good,” after many of the things we had thought we didn’t like were rectified. And, whereas many children do not eat vegetables, he would prepare them and they were delicious.
Mr. Byrd, who had completed eighth grade, was also an avid reader throughout his life, according to his children. He was also a traditionalist in terms of etiquette and treating others with dignity.
Always a gentleman, Shirley stated. Every time a woman enters and gets into the car, he is the one who opens the door for her. That man was him.
Following the war, Mr. Byrd lived in New York for nearly 65 years before returning to Georgia to be closer to family. He worked at many occupations before his worsening health forced him to relocate to Gastonia in 2018, yet he always made time for his family and friends.
Jacqueline recalls her father s ability to make her and Shirley laugh even while they were crying. He would find something; he just had a way about him that could take a sad face and make it happy.
Shirley recalled: We didn t have much, but we didn t realize it. You wouldn t know it. If you only relied on spirit and love, we would be affluent beyond measure. We were all flowing, because that s what he did: he gave and showed love and affection.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.