ATLANTA, GA – The Reverend Nathan Hooks Byrd passed away on Friday, April 12, 2013 in Atlanta, GA following several years of declining health.

As a minister of The United Methodist Church, NC Conference, he served over 40 years as a pastor in Bedford, VA, Elizabeth City, Lumberton, Durham, Carrboro, Ahoskie, Goldsboro, and Burlington, NC.  He also served in a special ministry with Methodist Retirement Homes in Durham.

He was preceded in death by his older brother, the Reverend A. D. Byrd, Jr. and is survived by his wife, Jacqueline (Jackie) Soles Byrd of Alpharetta, GA; son, Nathan Richard (Rick) Byrd and wife, Lori, of Suwanee, GA; daughter, Deborah Byrd Wynn and husband, Jack, of Duluth, GA; brother, the Reverend Douglas Byrd and wife, Carolyn, of Raleigh, NC; sister-in-law, Rose Anderson Byrd; and four grandchildren, Meredith Wynn, Brandon Byrd, Brittany Byrd, and Cameron Byrd.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests sending donations to Banner Elk United Methodist Church, 486 College Drive, Banner Elk, NC 28604, in the memory of Rev. Nathan Byrd. All donations will benefit local community ministries. Banner Elk has always been a very special place for the Byrd family and Nathan and Jackie spent their first 14 years of retirement there.

His memorial services will be held at Banner Elk United Methodist Church, Banner Elk, NC, on Saturday, April 20 at 2:00 p.m.

A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home, Decatur, GA, is handling the arrangements.