April 11, 1931 –

May 20, 2011

The funeral service for Sarah Miller Byrd, 80, of Tallahassee, Fla., formerly of Whigham, Ga., were held on Monday, May 23, at Tired Creek Primitive Baptist Church near Whigham with the Rev. Thomas W. Kennedy officiating.

Interment followed at Tired Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery with Alan Susky, Robert Stauffer, Destry Burch, Lance Burch, Luke Burch and Charles Bembry serving as active pallbearers.

Mrs. Byrd was born April 11, 1931, in Whigham, the daughter of Thomas Edward Miller and Aelon Cutchens Miller. She died Friday, May 20, 2011, at her residence.

She was a graduate of Whigham High School, Class of 1947, and began a banking career at the age of 16 working in Bainbridge, and retired from Barnett Bank in Tallahassee with more than 40 years of service. While gaining promotions at the bank, she worked diligently as a mother, instilling values passed down from her father and mother: Faith, kindness, honor and trustworthiness. The golden threads of intelligence, wit, generosity and old-fashioned southern charm wove the fabric of her success in personal and business relationships. She was known for shattering glass ceilings, being the first vice president of Tallahassee’s Barnett Bank, and helping other women achieve higher positions in companies around Florida. She was active on many boards in Tallahassee, some of which were AmSouth Bank, Tallahassee Symphony, Heart Foundation, Gayfers, Parisians and was a charter member of the Florida Women’s Network.

Mrs. Byrd was preceded in death by her husband, Richard A. Byrd, and her brother, Thomas Clint Miller.

Survivors include her daughters, Tommee Stauffer of Havana, Fla., and Sallee Burch and her husband, Ron, of Tallahassee; her sister-in-law, Geraldine Miller of Whigham; her grandchildren, Sarah Stauffer, Aelon Susky and her husband, Alan, Richard Johnson, and Destry Burch and his wife, Amy; great-grandchildren, Reis Susky, Lance Burch and Lucas Burch.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308.

Ivey Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.