Joe R. Byrd

Evans, GA – Joe R. Byrd, 80, beloved husband of Mary Byrd, peacefully past away at home on Friday, March 6, 2015.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at First Baptist Church of Evans, located at the corner of Belair and Washington Roads, with Dr. Tim Owings officiating. Interment to follow in Westover Memorial Park.

Joe was born on November 21, 1934 in Appling, Georgia. Joe attended Harlem Elementary School and Evans High School. He graduated from Evans in 1951. He attended a business school in Augusta and after graduation was employed by the Augusta Pepsi Cola Company beginning as a book keeper and working his way up to general manager. His years of employment there were from 1952 until 1967. Along with Hugh Hamilton and James Ilderton, Southern Beverage Packers, Inc. was founded in 1968 to produce bottled soft drinks and then developed into the bottled water business. In 1984 Joe became owner of the company with sons David and Stephen as partners. Joe held membership in several organizations; the Junior Chamber of Commerce, George Walton Masonic Lodge #699, Augusta Elks Club #205, and the Pinnacle Club. He served on the Richmond County Development Authority, Richmond County Committee of 100, and the Columbia County Development Authority. He was a member of 43 years of the First Baptist Church of Evans, serving as deacon, trustee, and Sunday School teacher. Joe made many friends in the Augusta political community, helping candidates for political positions with advice and friendship.

Joe was proud of his family, especially his grandchildren and delighted in spending time with them. There were trips to the beach and mountains, to Washington, D.C., the Okefenokee Swamp, and a trip to Alaska with his grandson Bradley. Many summer days were spent on the porch in rocking chairs with Joe giving the grandchildren instructions on life. He taught them how to garden and enjoy nature. Joe had an appreciation for nature and took many walks in the woods and fields on his farm, Walnut Hill. He enjoyed working with the farm animals and tendering a vegetable garden.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Mary Symms Byrd; sons, David (Angie) and Stephen (Dawne); grandchildren, Bradley Byrd, Kerri Byrd, Rachel Byrd, Joshua Byrd, and step-granddaughter, Krystle Gardner; brother, Jim E. Brown (Dianne); sisters, Maggie Hebbard (Lynn), and Linda Kelley (Jackie); and many nieces and nephews. He leaves behind many friends who loved him for who he was, a friend, honest and true.

Joe is preceded in death by his father; Slayton Byrd; mother, Bertha Smith Byrd Brown; stepfather, Jim B. Brown; brother, Gordon Byrd; sister, Jeanette Broughton; and nephew, Joseph Gordon Byrd.

Active pallbearers will be Brad Hartman, John Lowe, Thomas Lowe, Daniel Richardson, Ricky Fuller, and Bradley Byrd. Honorary pallbearers will be Pierce Blanchard, Jim Courson, Neil Dickert, John Gillion, Robert Major, Ralph Montigney, Chris Murphey, Philip Murphey, Mark Symms, Colden and Mary Waller, and Duncan Wheale.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Franklin Graham Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC, 28607-3000, or St. Jude’s Hospital for Children, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN, 38105.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 beginning at 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Platt’s Funeral Home, 337 North Belair Road, Evans, GA.

“And the end of all our travels shall lead us to the place from which we started, and we shall know it for the first time” – T.S. Eliot.