Mildred (Sharpton) Byars

Mildred Sharpton Byars, age 101¾ years, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2024.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 21 at 11AM at St. John's Methodist Church in Rock Hill, SC.  The family will receive friends after the service in the Atrium.  

Millie was born on December 8, 1922 in Abbeville, SC.  She graduated with honors from Abbeville High School. A few days before she passed away, she sang the Abbeville High School alma mater - both verses. Millie met and married her beloved husband, Stanley Cook Byars, shortly after her graduation. In 1946, Millie and Stanley moved to Rock Hill, SC to work with family friends, the Wilkersons, at Rock Hill Furniture Company. They made Rock Hill their home. They raised their two daughters, Harriet and Mary Jane, and were active in St. John's Methodist Church where Millie is still a member.  She had the honor of being employed by St. John's as its first church visitor - a position she loved and enjoyed.  In later years, she was employed as a Welcome Wagon hostess.  Millie was an avid walker - walking her neighborhood daily with her "boys" - Danny and Brian.  She was an excellent cook (homemade bread), seamstress (her daughters' wedding dresses), card shark (any game), and grandmother (sleepovers).  

In 2018, Millie moved to Harbor Chase (now Kempton of Rock Hill).  Her years at Harbor Chase were happy, content, fun, and entertaining - especially when John Leon Lewis came to sing. The Byars family wishes to thank the entire Harbor Chase staff for the very special love, care, and attention they gave her.  

Millie was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley Cook Byars; her daughter, Harriet Louise Byars Peoples; her parents, William Clifton Sharpton and Margaret Louise Smith Sharpton; her siblings Edith Sharpton Parnell, Evelyn Sharpton Norris, Dorothy Sharpton Harmon, William Clifton Sharpton, Jr, and Sara Sharpton Fowler.  

Millie is survived by her daughter, Mary Jane Byars Shuler (Dr. Donald Shuler), and her son-in-law J. Alan Peoples.  She was a beloved Oma to her grandchildren Elizabeth Shuler LeBlanc (Joe), Harriet Shuler (Ben), John Byars Shuler (Kathleen), William Shuler (John Buckner), Alan Peoples (Paula), Sterling Peoples (Terry), and Seth Peoples (Laurie).  She was also Oma to her great grandchildren John Robert LeBlanc, Laura LeBlanc, Audie Shuler, Byars Shuler, and Harrison Peoples.  She is survived by many nieces and nephews and very special friends Peggy Gardner, Lynn Hornsby, and Harriet Sample.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to St. John's Methodist Church (321 South Oakland Avenue; Rock Hill, SC 29730) or Kempton of Rock Hill Heroes Fund (1611 Constitution Blvd; Rock Hill, SC 29732).

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brattonfuneralhome.com.

Bratton Funeral Home of York, SC is serving the Byars family.

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