Kenneth Chestnutt Byrd

Kenneth Chestnutt Byrd, 84, a native of Faison and former resident of Mount Olive passed away on Monday, December 19, 2022. He had resided in Dunkirk, Maryland for the past three years. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years, Gail King Byrd;  his parents Marshall and Virginia Chestnutt Byrd, and brothers Dallas Byrd and Stanley Byrd. After serving in the United States Army, Kenneth and Gail moved to Maryland where they lived for 40 years. He worked for Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company, and later Bell Atlantic as a Cable Splicer for over 30 years.

Kenneth and Gail retired back to North Carolina in 1999 and enjoyed being with family and friends. When Gail became ill, he was her fulltime care giver and truly lived the saying "in sickness and health". Through the years he enjoyed a round of golf, fishing, a cold Pepsi with Fritos and Carolina BBQ. After Gail's passing, he returned to live in Maryland. He stayed busy cooking for his family, helping to babysit the great-grandchildren, P.J., Everly and Carson and playing with his rescue dog Rocky.

Kenneth is survived by his daughter, Lisa Byrd Garner and son-in-law Stephen Garner; daughter Laura Byrd Kallas and son-in-law George Kallas; granddaughter, Samantha Garner Carter (Paul), grandson, Andrew K. Garner (Amanda) and granddaughter Natalie S. Kallas; great-grandchildren, Paul Carter, Jr., Everly Rose Garner and Carson S. Carter, all of Maryland; brother, Mitchell Byrd of Cary, NC; sister,  Helen Byrd Pate Jackson of Mount Olive, NC and brother, Jimmy Byrd of Faison, NC;  sister-in-law, Jean Byrd of Mount Olive, brother-in-law, Johnny King (Faye) of Warsaw, NC, and many nieces and nephews. 

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