Irene King Byrd passed peacefully on Sept. 15, 2014, at the Waverly Health and Rehabilitation Center after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.

She will be sorely missed by those who knew her throughout her 76 years, but has gone to a place where her memory and health are restored. Irene, as she was known, was born on Aug. 23, 1938, in Waverly, Va., and was the fourth child of the late Tommie E. King and Ethel Mae Luster King. She grew up in Waverly, where she lived all of her life. She attended school in Sussex County and graduated in 1956 from the Sussex County Training School. She was homecoming queen in 1955 and class treasurer.

She met and fell in love with Lenious Leroy Byrd, and they married on Aug. 16, 1958. To this union were born three children. Irene was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandma, daughter, sister, aunt, co-worker and friend. She worked as a cook, substitute teacher, with USDA Extension Service, and was employed with the Farmers Home Administration until her retirement in 2000. She was "FHA Woman of the Year" in 1994. She managed the voting precinct for the Wakefield district. She loved travel, concerts and good preaching.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Tommy L. King, and in-laws, Major Byrd Sr. and Gloria Yvonne Clarke.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Leroy Byrd; children, Dennis Byrd, Denise B. Robinson, Ethel "Darby" Greenhill Rolan; son-in-law Louis Rolan; grandchildren, Corey Robinson, Austin Greenhill, Justin Robinson, Sydney Greenhill, Lauren Byrd-Moody, Jessica Rolan and Jordanne Rolan; one sister, Maude K. Johnson; three brothers, Frank (Lummie) King, Leon (Ruth) King and Calvin (Dorothy) King; one uncle, Joseph Luster; in-laws, Joyce (William) Clark, Hudson "Sonny" (Gwen) Byrd and Ralph "Jackie" (Cathy) Byrd; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends, among them devoted caretaker, Audrey Baines.

A wake for Mrs. Byrd will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, at Peace Bland Funeral Home, 237 Railroad Ave., Waverly, Va. Funeral services will be held at St. Paul Holiness Church, Dendron, Va., at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.