Beily Paige Foust Byrd

Beily Paige Foust Byrd was born on April 21, 1923 to Arthur Foust and Addie Brown Foust. She was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was their only child. Her father passed away when she was 5 years old and she and her mother became a part of "The Great Migration", which marked the massive relocation of African-Americans out of the South and into the North. Upon the advice of a dear friend, Biggie Hunt, our Nana, Addie, relocated herself and her daughter, Beily, to Glen Mills, PA. There, Nana embarked upon a career as a cook for the Swain Family who had introduced mushrooms as an agricultural crop to The United States. Not long there after, Nana became very ill necessitating hospitalization. Fearing that Beily would be without family and means, Nana urged Beily to find a job. By the grace of God, she was hired by Brauna Apple and her sister, two Quaker women who were seeking a companion. Beily remained in their household as a companion until she graduated from Kennet High School in 1941. In the Fall of 1941, Beily entered Freedman's Hospital in Washington, DC, matriculating into the Registered Nurse program. While in the program, she had the honor of training with Dr. Charles Drew. She exceled in surgical nursing under his training. Beily graduated from Freedman's Hospital in May of 1943. She returned to Wilmington, Delaware, where she and her mother lived at 301 N. Cleveland Avenue. In 1942, through her roommate, Jane Mitchell, Beily was introduced to Richard Byrd. She and Richard were married in 1948. Their marriage produced three children: Bonita Aileen, Beily Paige, and Richard Lee. The couple later divorced, but remained committed to raising their children together. Beily enjoyed a colorful and creative career as a Registered Nurse. She became the first African-American Visiting Nurse in Delaware, serving the communities of Wilmington's East Side, Millside, South Wilmington, and all African-American communities in Northern New Castle County. She developed and taught a course for Certified Nurses Assistants for the Wilmington Skills Center. She served as the School Nurse for The Absalom Jones School and Drew Pyle Elementary School. Following Desegregation of The Wilmington Public School District, Beily retired, focusing her time, attention, and talent on raising her grandchildren. She invested everything into them and their futures. In her view, this was her highest calling. Beily Paige Foust Byrd was a gifted artist, needlewoman, crafts person, a voracious reader, and lover of all things musical. She was witty and funny. She was physically one of the most beautiful women of her time, always poised and elegant. She will be sorely missed. As her son, Richard Lee Byrd, said "Mom was a comet. A miracle of nature that only happens one time. If you did not catch it, you missed it. She is survived by her three children; Bonita Byrd Williams, Beily Foust Street, Richard Lee Byrd, her seven grandchildren; Alton Damion Williams, Jea Porter Street, Jr., Jason Foust Street, Hunter Matthew Williams, Richard Lee Byrd, Jr., Tyler Marie Byrd, and Lauren Byrd. Funeral Services will begin at 10 am, Saturday, January 5, 2013, at the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew, 719 N. Shipley Street, Wilmington, DE 19801; viewing 9:30-10:00 am. Burial, Gracelawn Memorial Park.