Mr. Leslie Perry "Judge" Byrd Jr.

It is with deep sorrow that the Byrd family announces the death of their beloved father, Mr. Leslie Perry "Judge" Byrd, Jr, 94. Mr. Byrd, the widower of Mrs. Dora Ellen Turnage Byrd, entered into rest on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. The Directors of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home & Crematory are caring for the family. A funeral service to honor his life will be held at 11 o'clock on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Lakeview Baptist Church. The Rev. Ken Hughes will officiate, and Mr. Jack Elvington will deliver the eulogy. A burial will follow in Bethlehem Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends following the service. Memorials may be made in his honor to the Bethlehem Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Nolen Johnson, 2403 Bethlehem Rd, Hartsville, SC 29550. Mr. Byrd was born in Darlington County, SC, in the Byrdtown Community, the son of the late Leslie Perry Byrd, Sr., and the late Alice Griffith Byrd. He was a graduate of the Byrdtown Academy and served in the Army during the Korean War. After the Army, he married the love of his life, Dora Ellen Turnage. They were married for 69 years and 6 months at the time of her death. He went to work for Milliken Textiles in Hartsville and then for Sonoco until his retirement. He loved gardening. He always planted enough to ensure his family and friends had plenty of fresh vegetables every year. He worked his garden faithfully until his health wouldn’t allow it. He was an avid reader, loved to study his Bible, and was a faithful member of Lakeview Baptist Church, where he attended regularly until his health declined. He loved people and always wanted to be sure that you were “okay” and wanted to know if you needed anything. He will be missed by many, but most of all by his family; he will always be in our thoughts and forever in our hearts. He is survived by his children, Perry (Jana) Byrd of Graniteville, SC, Angela (Ken) Elmore of Mooresville, NC, Allison (Johnny) Byrd of Hartsville, SC, and Garrett Byrd of Dillon, SC; grandchildren, Ashley Usher, Corey Byrd, Daniel Byrd, David Byrd, William Byrd, Reavis Byrd; great-grandchildren, Nicole Harrell, Jema Byrd, Coyt Byrd and Beckham Byrd. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Dora Ellen Byrd, and his sister, Barbara B. Johnson.

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Mr. Leslie Perry "Judge" Byrd Jr.

March 19, 1931 - May 6, 2025