James Byrd

James (Jim) Richard Byrd, 81 of Lexington, passed away on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hinkle Hospice Home in Lexington.

A funeral service will be held at 11am on Friday, January 23, 2026, at Tyro Methodist Church with Rev. Randy Foster officiating. Burial will follow at Bethel Cemetery.

Visitation with family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service.

Jim was born on May 16, 1944, in Davidson County to the late Isaac Sanford Byrd and Ella V. Whitaker Byrd. He retired from PPG Industries where he worked as training manager. Jim was baptized at Reeds Baptist Church. He was a lifelong member of Tyro Methodist Church where he served on every committee, sang in the choir, and enjoyed the Methodist Men until his health would not allow him to attend. Jim was a big kid at heart, fun-loving and tenderhearted. He loved his family fiercely and was surrounded by females most of his life. He was overprotective of his wife and daughters and was known to check the tire tread on the vehicle of anybody that wanted to date one of his daughters. Jim loved his friends at PPG, church, camping in Sparta, golfing, and participated in anything that was going on. Jim loved his five granddaughters and often told people how proud he was of them and how blessed he was. His great-grandchildren were a great joy for him. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by son-in-law, Jeff Leonard; brother, Harlton Whitaker and sisters, Doris Sharpe, beloved brother-in-law, Jim Sharpe and Barbara Bailey.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife for almost 63 years, Gayle Byrd; daughters, Jamie Byrd Davis (Ben), Dana Byrd Leonard; brother-in-law, Albert Bailey; sister-in-law, Samira Wood; grandchildren, Julia Cornell (Jacob), Lindsay Kimbrell (Zach), Rachel Mills (Garrett), Madelyn Cauthen (Ashton), Haylee Leonard (Brick Wilkins); great-grandchildren, JJ, Sage, Eliana, Adelie, Lilly and Reid, a host of nieces and nephews, and fur baby Pebbles.

Special appreciation from the family is given to caregivers Brandi Simmons and Suzanne Richards.

Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Hinkle Hospice House or Tyro Methodist Church.