Ms. Ida Mae Harrill Byrd, 94, of Shelby, NC passed away on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, at Huntersville Oaks in Huntersville, NC. She was born on April 8, 1926 in Cleveland County, NC to the late James Harrill and the late Annie Mae Thomas Harrill.

Ida was a graduate of Cleveland High School. She loved her church and was a faithful member of Shiloh Baptist Church where she served as a missionary with the Annie Jones Missionary Circle. She attended Shiloh regularly until her health prevented her from attending.

While living in the Wilson Street community, she helped to organize the Willing Workers Woman's Club. They worked diligently with voter registration and community activities. She worked hard with Cleveland Schools's P.T. A. and served as a grade mother. Many adults have come up to her to say "thanks" for being there for them while they were in school.

She worked in various positions during her lifetime. She worked with the Lamar and Jean Young family as a maid for years. In order to provide a better life for her family, she turned to the textile industry, working at Hudson Hosiery, as the first Afro-American to work there, then at J. P. Stevens and Doran Industries. She retired from textiles in 1994. After retirement, she worked as a caregiver.

She loved flowers and could often be seen working in her front or back yard with her flowers. She was also an outstanding cook, known for many homemade dishes and making anything taste good.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Annie Harrill; her husband, James N. Byrd, Sr.;

James N. Byrd, Jr. and her sister Drucilla H. Favors.

She is survived by her son, Dwight Byrd, Sr. and daughter, Iva B. Wilson both of Shelby; her sister, Geneva Gaddis of Shelby and brother, Jimmy Harrill of Boca Rotan, Florida; daughter-in-law, Linda Byrd of Shelby; nine grandchildren, Alisa Petty (K.P.), Dwight Byrd, Jr. (Keisha), Reginald Byrd, Neil Byrd, Chrystal Hopper (Colonel), Levon Terrill, Jr, (Melissa), Julian Byrd (Laura), Ruby Harvin (Roosevelt) and Cody Jones (Nicole); nineteen great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The funeral service for Ms. Byrd will be private. The service will be livestreamed on Facebook starting at 1:45 PM on Monday. Ms. Byrd can be viewed on Monday, October 5, 2020, at S.T. Enloe Memorial Chapel from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM. The family will receive friends from 1:30 PM until 2:00 PM on Monday, October 5, 2020 at Shiloh Baptist Church. Burial will take place at Webb Memorial Lawns. Condolences can be expressed online at www.enloemortuary.com. Enloe Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.