Mr. William E. “Bill” Byrd Jr.

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Mr. William E. “Bill” Byrd Jr., 71, husband of Margie Broache Byrd and a resident of Byrd’s Folly on Folly Creek, Accomac, passed away at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital Friday, Oct. 26, 2018.

Born May 30, 1947, and a native of Norfolk, Va., he was a son of the late Dr. William E. Byrd and Elsye Yates Byrd. Mr. Byrd attended Randolph-Macon College until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He proudly served three tours in Vietnam and two years in Thailand. He always said he would have remained in the military but was homesick for his beloved Byrd’s Folly on the creek.

After returning from overseas, he started a career as a firefighter with the City of Norfolk, remaining there for 17 years. His desire to complete his college degree that he began prior to the Air Force came to fruition, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in English from University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). Upon graduating, Mr. Byrd began his third career as a middle school English teacher with the Accomack County Public School System. He retired after 12 years.

In addition to his wife, survivors include four children, William E. Byrd III, of California, Pa., Austin T. Byrd and wife, Vera, of Norfolk, Va., Bentley Y. Byrd, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Elizabeth A. Phillips, of Richmond, Va.; a grandson, Alexander Austin Byrd; a sister, Sarah Jane Byrd, of Beaufort, S.C.; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Mr. Byrd was predeceased by a brother, George Bentley Byrd.

A memorial service was held Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, at Grace United Methodist Church, in Parksley, with the Revs. Alan Layman and Martin Bagay officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. James Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 540, Accomac, VA 23301.

Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com

Arrangements were made by the Williams-Parksley Funeral Home.

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