James Edward Byrd, age 79, of NC Hwy 138, Norwood, NC  28128, passed away on Wednesday, January 12th, 2011 at CMC Mercy in Charlotte, NC.  His family will receive friends at Stanly Funeral Home on Friday evening form 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM and his funeral will be at 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 15th, 2011 at Full Gospel Mission Church.  Rev. Mitchell Cook, Rev. Jerry Baker and Rev. James Chambers will officiate and Entombment will be in Cumberland Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Fayetteville, NC.

Born June 11th, 1931 in Mt. Airy, NC, Mr. Byrd was the son of the late Dewey Byrd and Viola Bowles Byrd.  He was a 20 year retiree as a Staff Sgt in the US Air Force and retired employee of Fayetteville Observer and Times.  He also was a member of Full Gospel Mission Church, loved Western Movies, and was a great outdoorsman.

He is survived by his wife, Marie Poplin Byrd; one daughter, Nancy Lewis and husband Tony of Hope Mills, NC; two stepdaughters, Linda Marsh of Mt. Airy and Pam Smith and husband Gene of Albemarle, NC; one brother, Donald W. Byrd of VA; and three sisters: Pat Katter of LaGrange, GA, Freida Cox of Bassett, VA, and Doris Cassell of Matrinsville, VA.