Garland Stephen Byrd, 88, of Franklin, entered into rest on Friday, April 15, 2005.

A native of McDowell County, NC, he was the son of the late Roe and Minnie Hollifield Byrd. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Bill and eight sisters, Mildred, Mae, Myrtle, Katherine, Edith, Althea, Bessie and Davada. He was a US Army veteran and was a self employed contractor. Mr. Byrd was a member of Cowee Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joyce Sawyer Byrd; three children, Gail Walters and husband Skip and Celia Bryant and husband Bill all of Franklin and Barbara Kreider and husband Van of San Jose, CA; two brothers, Lee Byrd of Otto and Buck Byrd of Old Fort; one sister, Mary Byrd of Old Fort; eleven grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 17, at Cowee Baptist Church. Rev. Shawn Edwards, Rev. Lloyd Fish, Rev. Milton Hollifield and Rev. Tommy Fouts will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by the VFW Post 7339 and the American Legion Post 108.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at Macon Funeral Home.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association and the Cowee Baptist Church Building Fund.

Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences available @www.maconfuneralhome.com