Rex Byrd

Mr. Kenneth Rex Byrd, 84, of Sims, went to his Heavenly home on October 10, 2025.

Rex was born on February 26, 1941, the son of Randolph and Mabel Deans Byrd. He played basketball during his high school years at Rock Ridge High and was a 1963 graduate of North Carolina State University, where he continued playing sports.

His varied careers included parks and recreation director of Southeast North Carolina for several years, receiving the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine award. He was more recently an associate of Woodmen Life Insurance Company and the owner of an auto parts store in Bailey.

Rex loved his church family and was a devoted member of Marsh Swamp OFWB Church. He served many years on the Deacon Board, taught Sunday School, was active in the Laymen’s League, served as Sunday School Superintendent, and participated in many other activities.

He cherished the time he spent with his son, step-son, and lifetime friends hunting, fishing, and playing golf. Rex and his wife, Nellie, spent many years traveling with his brother and friends to Florida, where he played golf almost daily. His love for God and family was a priority, traveling from coast to coast, visiting young and old.

In addition to his parents, Rex was preceded in death by a loving sister, Brenda Byrd Coleman, brother, Larry Randolph Byrd, and son-in-law Mike Strickland. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Nellie Privette Byrd; daughters, Rhonda B. Strickland and Kimberly B. Sile (Jack); son, Ryan Byrd; grandchildren, Maci Strickland Skinner (Tyler) and Austin Sile; great-grandson, Brady Skinner; brother, Erick Byrd (Becky) of Sims. Rex was loved by his surviving step-children, Judy Kilpatrick, Patsy Howard (Billy), Gail Garrett (Ronald), Linda Hopkins, Fran McKinney (Wayne), and Herbert Blaylock, Jr (Kim). Calling him Grandpa Rex were 21 step-grandchildren, 49 step-great-grandchildren, and 16 step-great-great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be on November 1st at Marsh Swamp OFWB Church, 6664 Rock Ridge School Road, Sims, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. with a Memorial Service immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Marsh Swamp Memorial Fund, 6504 Rock Ridge School Road, Wilson, NC 27893.

Arrangement by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr. N., Wilson, NC; 252-237-7171; www.wilsonmemorialservice.com