Gaffney -- Artie Whelchel Byars, 90, of 510 Thompson Street, passed away Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018, at Blue Ridge In Brookview Healthcare Center.

Born in Gaffney, she was the widow of Roy Davis Byars and the daughter of the late Thompson Whitby Whelchel and Mamie Parker Whelchel. Mrs. Byars previously worked in textiles and was Baptist faith.

Surviving Mrs. Byars are one daughter, Ella Byars, of Blacksburg; one brother, Roy T. Whelchel, of Gaffney; eleven grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; and nineteen great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Byars was preceded in death by two sons, Robert Davis Byars and Michael Wayne Byars; five daughters, Nancy Patricia "Pat" Childress, Teresa "Gail" Humphries, Rebecca Harrington, Judy Byars, and Alice Martin; four sisters, Inez and Irene Whelchel, Louise Moore, and Josephine Medley; and one brother, Basil Whelchel Sr.

The family will receive friends on Friday, May 25th, 2018, from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at Gordon Mortuary. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 26th, 2018 at 2:00 pm at the Tabernacle of Love with Rev. Bobby Earls, Rev. Lucky Earls, and officiating. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Kevin Dixon, Son Scruggs, Michael Cook, Robbie Byars, Billy Joe Smith, Brian Henderson, and Josh Henderson will serve as pallbearers.

The family will be at their respective homes.

The Book of Memories is available at www.gordonmortuary.com.

The Blacksburg location of Gordon Mortuary is serving the Byars family.