Doris Lee Jeffery Byrd

Living a life of purpose and excellence according to Doris Lee Jeffery Byrd, was the driving force of her life of service to others! Doris Lee was a skilled cook who worked as a cafeteria manager at Spaulding High School. Her mother taught her to design and sew clothes and household items. She earned money sewing for others and pressing hair as a kitchen beautician. Doris Lee was an employee of Fiber Industries for many years, where she was distinguished upon retirement for being the first person to retire without ever using sick leave. After retiring she continued her service to the community as a site manager for the Darlington County Council on Aging at the Lamar Nutrition Site. Subsequently, she received the Governor's Office Site Manager of the Year Award. Doris Lee later became the first and only African American woman to serve on the Lamar Town Council. She was a fierce negotiator and advocated for all who were doing things to facilitate progress in the town of Lamar. As the Commissioner for the Lamar Police Department, she stood firm on the principles of law and order. She loved shouldering that responsibility and maintaining her gun permit. She was a passionate quilter and provided them for people everywhere; and she displayed and sold them at the annual Lamar Egg Scramble Jamboree. Doris Lee, born June 19, 1926, was the second born of five children (four of whom preceded her in death) and first daughter of the late Christenar Alexander and Eugene Jeffery. Education was important to her family and though she, like others of her time, walked to school, she graduated June 12, 1944 from the historic Butler High School. Thus began Doris Lee's long journey through motherhood and adulthood. Instead of pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse on June 25, 1944, she married Lawton "RB" Byrd of Lamar, South Carolina. Her love for children allowed her to connect to God's most precious creation, beginning with their children, daughter, Darnell Jeanette (Joseph) McPherson and son, the late Ravenell Lawton Byrd, III. She nurtured two of her grandchildren, Hope James and Everette Davis. When her only son died, leaving behind a four year old son, Karif, she added an extra dose of love. There are many god children and special little people who experienced love, acceptance, and guidance from her. She was a friend to anyone who was at risk and took gratification in encouraging them to pursue their goals and to strive for excellence. Doris Lee will be missed by her devoted daughter, Darnell (Joseph) McPherson; devoted grandchildren, Everette Davis, Hope James, Amani (Samuel) Rodriquez, and Karif Byrd; dear great grand children, former husband, aunts, devoted cousins, special sons, Michael, James Edward, Darris, and Jeffery, and other relatives. Let Doris Lee be remembered as someone who never quit, never gave up, and never turned anyone away who asked for or needed her help.