Norman James Byrd

Norman James Byrd

Age 86

October 20, 1937 - March 26, 2024

Norman James Byrd, October 20, 1937 - March 26, 2024, age 86, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather passed away in his home Tuesday morning , March 26, 2024.  He was surrounded by his loving family.

Visitation Service to be held Thursday, March 28, 2024 at Pink Hill Funeral Home from 7:00-9:00 pm. The funeral will be held at Turning Point Assembly on Friday, March 29, 2024 at 2:00 pm followed by a graveside service at Byrd Cemetery on Hwy 11 in Pink Hill. 

Norman was born in and lived in Lenoir County, North Carolina his entire life.  He was the 6th born child of the late Ethel Mae and Earl James Byrd and the last of his siblings to meet his savior in heaven. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers and sisters, Estelle Smith, Harvey Byrd, Thomas Byrd, Clarence Byrd, Jimmy Byrd, Kenneth Byrd and Sue Hill. Also survived by two  sisters-in-law, Trula Meadows and Betty Byrd.  

Norman was a generous, kind, and loving husband and father and faithful servant to his church and the Lord.  Norman loved his family beyond measure and anyone that knew him felt his love, his wonderful sense of humor and friendship the minute they met him. He rarely met a stranger and if he teased you, you knew he approved of you! He was the rock of his family, extended family and church and led them through many times of joy and happiness, tribulation and grief with his constant faith and love. Norman was the perfect example of someone who did "walk the walk and talk the talk” of his faith. Although his family and church family are large, all were important and special in his eyes. 

Besides his church service, Norman spent his spare time in his yard tending to his plants and flowers, mowing the grass, getting the leaves up and weeding around his tomatoes and collards. He was even known to decorate some of the collards he had in his front yard at Christmastime. He loved to sing in his church and he wrote his own songs of praise after the Lord saved him and gave him the “gift of song”. 

He loved NCSU, cats and his wife's cooking. He enjoyed travel, and the mountains would call his name on many family trips, but home was always where the heart was. His laughter was infectious and he had a lexicon of “Norman-isms” that got everyone around him laughing.  

Above all, he loved the Lord and served in his church, Turning Point Assembly, as a founding member and cornerstone.  He graduated from Pink Hill High School and afterward farmed and 25 years as a textile technician for Dupont. 

Norman is survived by his faithful wife Carol Elizabeth Byrd, who was the absolute love of his life. His stories of their courtship and his devotion to her is a love story for the ages. 

He is survived also by his son Tim Byrd and wife Michele of Clayton; son Tommy Byrd and wife, Tammy of Deep Run; daughter April Byrd Bilodeau and husband Marc of Pink Hill; grandchildren and great-grandchildren Harrison Byrd and wife Amelia Ferrell-Byrd of Goldsboro (Gustav and Juniper), Grayson Byrd of Raleigh; Brittany Wade and husband Adam of Kinston (Hadley), Hunter Byrd of Goldsboro (Cole and Dawson), Danielle Heath and husband Allen of New Bern, Justin Anderson of Raleigh; Amber Shivers of Pink Hill (Jaxson); Hailey Gibbons and Nyckolai Bilodeau of Pink Hill. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews and he loved them all. 

His family will miss him greatly, but are comforted in knowing he is at peace, his life is an inspiration for their own, with solid assurance in God they will see him again. 

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