CHARLOTTE

Alvis Windell Byrd, 66, died March 24, 2009, at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

He was born in Lilesville Oct. 14, 1942 to the late Thomas P. Byrd and Pearl Flowers Byrd. At an early age he confessed Christ and joined Chilson Grove Baptist Church.

He received his education in the public schools of Anson and Hood Seminary at Livingstone College. After high school, he moved to New Jersey, where he worked in law enforcement and as a truck driver.

He moved back to North Carolina and became a pastor.

He was adored by all his family and he put others before himself. He was helpful, pleasant, humorous and had a way with people.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Fred J. Byrd and Hicks D. Byrd.

He is survived by his wife, Loretta Rawls Byrd; six sisters, Thomasina Byrd Liles and Pearlie (Callie) M. Ingram, of Lilesville, Delese Parson of Hamlet, Anna Byrd Bennett and Carrie Matthews, of Bridgeton, N.J., and Mary G. Hall of Sicklerville, N.J.; a brother, John (Sarah) T. Byrd of Polkton; mother-in-law, Annie Dixon Rawls; two sisters-in-law, Audrey (Fulton) Bryant, Emma (John) Carr; three brothers-in-law, Fernald (Doris) Rawls and Lawrence Rawls, all of Rose Hill, and John Mark Liles of Lilesville; and a host of other relatives and friends.