Rosa Lillian Holston Byrd, 91, of 102 E. McIntosh Circle, Griffin departed this life Friday, January 13, 2023 at Brightmoor Hospice, Griffin. Mrs. Byrd, fondly known as “Roe-Lillian”, was born April 5, 1931 in Fort Valley, Georgia to parents Lewis John Holston and Otis Lee Powell Holston. Her family would later move to Griffin, Georgia where she was reared and gained her education. Rosa was a true sports fan. She loved the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Bulldogs, wrestling, and those Griffin High School Bears. Rosa was married to the late John Byrd; to this union they would be blessed with a son, Kenneth Lee Byrd. Mrs. Byrd was a devoted member of Mount Zion Baptist Church where she served faithfully until her health began to fail.

Rosa referred to herself as “Homegirl”; she was always a strong family supporter. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John Byrd; sisters, Mary Evelyn Sullivan and Mattie L. Brown; brothers, John Wesley Holston, James Lewis Holston, and Willie Matthew Holston; sister-in-law, Ida Baker Holston; brothers-in-law, Andrew Jackson “A.J.” Sullivan and Sylvester Brown; uncles and aunts, James “Bubba” Holston, Deacon Ernest Holston (Eunice), and Matthew Holston (Etta); niece, Lynda Darnell Sullivan and cousin, Earl Holston.

Her memory will be cherished by her son, Kenneth Lee Byrd (Antonia); granddaughters, Kennethia Byrd and Andranana Miller; sisters, Angela Holston Blanton and Gwendolyn Crawford; Aunt, Mary Dobson; sister-in-law, Bettye H. Holston; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Visitation will be held Thursday, January 19, 2023 from 4:00 P.M.- 7:00 P.M. at Burdens Funeral Home, 1512 Williamson Road, Griffin, Georgia 30224.

Funeral Services will be held 1:00 P.M. Friday, January 20, 2023 at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 321 East Taylor Street, Griffin, Georgia with her remains placed in state one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Reverend Dr. Cleopatrick Lacy, Senior Pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church, officiating.

Floral arrangements for Mrs. Byrd can be sent to Burdens Funeral Home, 1512 Williamson Road, Griffin, Georgia beginning Thursday morning.

Bernard’s Family Funeral Care, LLC “The Eatonton Chapel” 103 Willie Bailey Street, Eatonton, Georgia is honored to have been chosen to serve the Byrd Family.