VIRGINIA BEACH—Southgate Lee Byrd, 89, of Sentara-Windemere, formerly of Murfreesboro, N.C., died July 7, 2007, at 11 a.m.

Mr. Byrd was a native of Roxobel, N.C., a member of Meherrin Baptist Church, a son of the late Lonnie Lee and Mamie Tillery Byrd, and had retired as a supervisor for Georgia Pacific in Conway,

N.C.

Survivors include two sons, Gerald Byrd and wife Carolyn of Bassett, Donnie Byrd and wife Anita of Elizabeth City, N.C.; one daughter, LouAnn Fulks and husband Bryan of Virginia Beach; eight grandchildren, Sandy, Andy, Angela, Nichole, Karen, Brittany and Tyler Byrd and Nicholas Fulks; eight great-grandchildren, Joshua, Daniel, Donna Rae, Olivia and Hannah Byrd, Elizabeth White, and Ryan and Nathan Fleming; a half-sister, Mildred King of Windsor; two half-brothers, Wilson and Frank Whitley of Franklin; and a daughter-in-law, Kathryn Byrd of Milwaukee, N.C.

He was predeceased by his wife, Ruth Vann Byrd; both parents; three brothers, James Leo Byrd, Tommy E. Byrd and Windell Byrd; a half-brother, Junior Whitley; and nephews, Edgar Byrd and Bennie Byrd.

A funeral was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Meherrin Baptist Church, 513 Meherrin Lane, Murfreesboro, N.C., with the Revs. Terry Jones and James Hester officiating, with burial in the church cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Meherrin Baptist Church Window Fund, 513 Meherrin Lane, Murfreesboro, NC 27855.

Garrett Funeral Home, 205 NC Highway 42, West Ahoskie, N.C., was in charge of arrangements.