Merle Byrd

1944 - 2022

Merle Ann Byrd
December 23, 1944 - December 6, 2022
Macon, Georgia - Merle Ann Byrd passed away on December 6th, 2022, a few weeks shy of her 78th birthday. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother her absence is deeply felt across generations of friends and family.
Born on December 23rd, 1944, in Philadelphia, Merle made her way to Macon, Georgia in time to meet her soulmate, Marshall, whom she married in the summer of 1961. Over the next 59 years, their life together blossomed into five children, 10 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.
Over the course of a life filled with love and service, Merle blessed those around her with her kindness, grace, and talent. She served the Lord in the congregation of Wesley United Methodist Church for over 50 years beginning when the body was known as 2nd Street Methodist and met downtown spending decades as a leader in its music ministry, with many years spent either as the church's pianist or choir leader. Merle was a cornerstone of the Wesley congregation, leading a ladies Bible study for nearly two decades while serving in a myriad of other capacities. Merle loved and was loved by her church, and her spirit will live on both within its walls and in the ways in which it continues to serve its community.
Merle's greatest legacy lives on in her family. Her kindness and giving spirit continue to reverberate across generations of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. To everyone in her orbit, she instilled a love and dedication to family - both that which we are born into, and that which we choose. Merle always chose family, always chose kindness, and always chose love.
She is survived by her children: Sharon Wolfe of Macon, Georgia (John), Tammy Fletcher of Mequon, Wisconsin (Kevin), Lisa Curl of Clover, South Carolina (Todd), and Shawn Byrd of Byron, Georgia (Christa) along with 10 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marshall, and daughter, Vickie, as well as her parents, Ethyl and Wayne Lundry.
There has never been a kinder person than Merle Ann Byrd. She will be remembered in the smiles and laughs of her family, in the songs sung by her loved ones, and in the best cornbread dressing anyone has ever tasted. The world is better because she was here.
Visitation will be held Friday, December 16th at 10:00 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 4256 Hartley Bridge Rd in Macon, with a service to follow at 11 a.m. She will be interred immediately afterwards at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens - 7070 Houston Rd, Macon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Wesley United Methodist Church.
Friends may sign the online register atwww.fairhavenmacon.com.
Fairhaven Funeral Home and Cremation Service has charge of arrangements