SHELBY: Heaven reclaimed Virginia Sparks Byers, 95, from the Shelby Wendover Hospice House on April 4, 2021. She was born on April 29, 1925 in Union, South Carolina to the late Joseph Sparks and Pearl Anthony Sparks. Virginia graduated from Union High School, attended Carson-Newman in Tennessee and graduated from Knoxville General Hospital School of Nursing in 1946. She worked as a third-shift RN/Supervisor in labor and delivery and ER at Cleveland Memorial Hospital in Shelby from 1951 until her retirement on January 4, 1982.

Virginia married the late Neil Palmer Byers of Shelby on March 22, 1945. They enjoyed 54 wonderful years together. She is survived by two sons, Ronnie Neil Byers of Shelby and Michael Kent Byers and wife Susan House Byers of Leland; a grandson Christopher Neil Byers and wife Brooke Elizabeth Byers and two great-grandchildren, Britain Elizabeth Byers and Wakinian Hawke Byers of Bellevue, Washington. Her extended family of hundreds also include Linda Santorum Byers of San Marcos, Texas and Anne Russek Byers of Round Rock, Texas.

The center of her life was God, family and friends. A beloved long-time member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church and the Bayliss Sunday School Class, Virginia was known for her birthday calls and cards to church members and her many friends. That beautiful smile, gentle kind heart, and her others-first philosophy will live on in our hearts forever. "Well done, thy good and faithful servant."

A celebration of life memorial service will be conducted at a future post-Covid date at Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, be creative and do a random kind act of kindness for someone or some organization in honor of Virginia Byers.

FUNERAL HOME: Arrangements are entrusted to Clay-Barnette Funeral Home & Aquamation Center

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