Angier, NC: Mr. Lester “Cleveland” Byrd, age 79, passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Kitty Askins Hospice House in Goldsboro, NC. Funeral Services will be held-2:00 PM Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at Bethel Primitive Baptist Church in Angier, NC. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM prior to the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Mr. Byrd was born on July 22, 1947 in Johnston County, NC to the late Daniel Thelbert and Mayvell Parrish Byrd. Lester Cleveland Byrd, known as “Cleveland” to his friends and family, was a loving husband, Dad, and Papa. He loved spending time with family, especially playing and loving on his grandkids. Cleveland always found beauty in God’s creation and animals. He had a special love and bond with his dogs, often referring to them as a “Three Dog Night”. He loved his Lord and Savior and enjoyed sharing God’s word with others, he also loved Bible history and theology. Cleveland loved people and had friends from all walks of life, no one was a stranger to him, and he was always ready to give a helping hand to others. He loved to talk and would spark conversation with anyone everywhere he went. Cleveland had a love for baseball, he played for many years and went to many baseball games. He umpired many little league games and coached little league, and both women’s and men’s teams until it was time to retire his baseball hat and gear but the love of the game stayed with him. All who knew him, loved him and his kind ways. He will be dearly missed and will remain forever a shining star in the hearts of his family, brightly glowing until we meet again inside Heaven’s gates.

Survivors include his wife, Sylvia Sue Hamilton Byrd; son, Rodney Byrd and wife, Tina of Clayton; daughter, Crystal Brown and husband, Eddie of Coats; grandchildren, Austin Byrd of Angier, Alexa Byrd Gentry and husband, Dallas of Angier; Caitlin Floyt and husband, Will of Smithfield, Patrick Brown of Benson, Courtney Brown Herring and husband, Brandon of Coats; and Savannah Brown of Coats; sister, Alma Byrd Williamson and husband, Clyde of Seagroves; brother, Daniel Byrd of Troy; and several special nieces and nephews.

The family appreciates your thoughts and prayers at this time and would like to give their heartfelt thanks to 3HC Home Health and Hospice as well as the staff at Kitty Askins Hospice House for their compassionate care during Cleveland’s illness.

Arrangements by Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Benson, NC.