Bertha Lea Byers

Bertha Lea Byers, 94 of Augusta, passed away on Wednesday November 19 at her home following a brief illness.

Bertha was born June 19, 1931 in Doloroso, Mississippi to Francis Floyd and Luella Fisher-Floyd.

Bertha or "Bobo" or "Bubbles" as she was lovingly known, was a member of Northside Church of Christ in Augusta for more than 48 years, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher for a good number of those years.

While growing up in Doloroso, Bertha received her early education from the Wilkerson County Schools, which only went up to the 8th grade. She then transferred to the high school department at Alcorn College, where she graduated in 1952. She then went on to attend Alcorn State University, where she pursued and completed a degree in Home Economics in 1956.

After graduating college, Bertha went on to begin a career as an Educator with Finch High School in Centreville, Mississippi, where she taught for 3 years (1956-1959). She then went on to teach elementary school at the Wilkerson County Training Schools in Woodville for 6 years (1960-1966). After relocating to Augusta, Arkansas in 1966, she went to work for the Carver High School in Augusta as a Home Economics teacher. She taught there for one year before going back to Alcorn State and taking additional classes in elementary education. She started teaching elementary school at Laura Conner Elementary School which later be renamed Augusta Middle School. She would retire in 1996. Even after retiring with so many years of service, she went back to continue working as a substitute teacher for an additional 10 years.

Throughout her time as an Educator, Bertha was a member of the National Education Association, the Arkansas Education Association; a member of the Arkansas Retired Teachers Association and the Oasis Organization.

Bertha married John Eldridge Byers in April 1966. To this union two children were born.

Her husband John Byers, her parents: Francis and Luella Floyd; and two brothers: Joseph Floyd and Daniel Floyd all preceded Bertha in death.

Survivors are: Kevin (Tiffany) Byers Sr. of Augusta, AR; a daughter Carolyn A. (Matthew Taylor III) Byers-Brown of Bella Vista, AR; eight grandchildren: De'meon (Jamie) Brown of Augusta, KS; Brandon (Brittany) Brown of Springdale, AR; Jordan Byers, Kevin Byers Jr., Mark (Elise) Byers, Brianna Byers, Hailey Byers and Whitney Byers all of Cenerton, AR; 10 great grandchildren, a great grandchild; a sister Rosie Mae Floyd of Doloroso, MS and a host of other relatives and friends.

A visitation will be held on Friday evening, December 5 from 6 PM until 8:30 PM at Northside Church of Christ, 1236 Rightaway Road in Augusta. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 6 at 11 AM at Holy Ghost Academy Church of God in Christ, 927 South 4th Street in Augusta with Bro. Bobby Johnson serving as eulogist. Interment will take place on Monday, December 8 at 12 Noon at Hamilton Chapel Cemetery, 301 Hamilton Chapel Road in Waterford, Mississippi by C.J. Williams Funeral Directors and Cremations of Brinkley (870) 589-5036 and Stuttgart (870) 672-7100 email: williamsfuneraldirectors2022@gmail.com and web address: www.williamsfuneraldirectors.net <http://www.williamsfuneraldirectors.net>

Pallbearers are: De'meon Brown, Brandon Brown, Kevin Byers Sr., Jordan Byers, Kevin Byers Jr., Mark Byers, Drayden Brown, and Brayden Brown.