Charles Louis Byrd, 81, of Bell Buckle died Friday, October 14, 2022 at Carriage House Inn surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Monday, October 17, at Hillcrest Funeral Home, Ron Bevels officiating.  Burial with military honors will follow at Hazel Cemetery in Bell Buckle.  Visitation will begin at 11 a.m.

He was born February 9, 1941 in Norfolk, Virginia.  He served three years in the U.S. Air Force and worked for Avon Cosmetics for 15 years in Chicago, Ill.  He moved with his family in 1978 to Atlanta, Ga. and became a painting contractor.  In 1989 he moved to Bell Buckle and continued his painting contractor business from which he never retired.  He was a member of Bell Buckle Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Carrie Violet Jernigan Byrd; his wife of 49 years, Elsie Bernice Byrd; and his loving sister, Gloria Ettore.

Charles is survived by his children, Glorinda (Wayne) Hitchcock of Bell Buckle, Charles (Eugenia) Byrd of Snellville, Ga.; grandchildren, Dakota (Samantha) Byrd, Cole Byrd, Travis (Krystal) Madgett, Trent Madgett, Katie Hitchcock, Grace Hitchcock; great-grandchildren,

Easton Madgett, Raylynn Madgett; brother, Lee Byrd; sisters, Dr. Carrie Byrd Lenburg, Yvonne Bargamin, Betty Lewis, Linda Bentley, Dr. Carol Ann Mitchell; many nieces and nephews and his companion, Marie Creson.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or New Destiny Dog Rescue.