RINCON, Ga. — When Katie Byrd walked into her living room on the Fourth of July, cheers and applause erupted. Draped in a colorful dashiki she made herself, the 100-year-old greeted guests with a warm smile — the same one that has carried her through a century of hardship, hope and grace.
Byrd turned 100 last week, surrounded by family and friends who came to celebrate not just a birthday, but a life defined by faith, resilience and love. Born in 1925 in rural Georgia, she came of age during segregation, endured deep personal loss, raised two children on her own and retired after decades of service in public schools. Her story spans generations — from the Jim Crow South to today — and continues to inspire those lucky enough to know her.
Where It All Began
Katie Byrd was born on Independence Day — July 4, 1925 — in Baker Hill, Georgia, the youngest of eight siblings. She remembers her early years fondly: playing in the front yard, pulling weeds and planting flowers. But her childhood was marked by tragedy. Both of her parents died young, and the children were separated and sent to live with relatives.
Byrd was raised by her grandmother until a storm destroyed their home. She was then sent to live with an aunt in Miami, where she would spend most of her life.
She began working in high school, landing a job at a beauty salon where she swept floors and cleaned sinks after school. She caught the bus home each night, often tired, but grateful for the chance to earn her own way.
A Witness to History
As a young Black woman in the segregated South, Byrd understood the power of education. That belief, passed down from her father’s side of the family, stayed with her through the years.
She witnessed the Civil Rights Movement unfold around her and drew strength from leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His efforts to integrate schools after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 inspired her to continue her own education, despite the odds.
Byrd earned a certificate from the Nightingale School of Nursing in 1950. She didn’t pass the licensing exam to become a practical nurse and didn’t have the resources to try again. Still, she pressed on, eventually finding work as a custodian for the Miami-Dade County School District. She held that job for decades, supporting herself and her children until she retired in 1989.
“When you try to accomplish something and fail, do not give up,” Byrd said. “Figure out what you need to do the next time and try again.”
A Mother’s Sacrifice
Byrd married a man she met in Florida. Her husband wasn’t religious but sometimes joined her in church. In 1959, he died in a workplace accident.
Finding love again, Byrd had two children - Gwendolyn Roan, now 63, and Greggie Byrd, 60. Gwendolyn and Greggie did not have a close relationship with their father.
For a time, Gwendolyn was raised by Byrd’s sister-in-law in Bunnell, Florida, but she returned to Miami at age 8 to live with her mother and younger brother.
“No one can ever tell me I can’t do something, because I saw my mother do it alone,” Gwendolyn said.
Greggie remembers the tension and unrest during the 1980s race riots in Miami. Even in those moments, he said, his mother turned to prayer.
“No matter how things get, you have a responsibility to pray, believe and trust that God will get you through anything,” he said.
A Life Rooted in Faith
Years later, Byrd’s older sister encouraged her to move to Rincon to escape the violence in Miami. Her niece, Herlene White, now lives in the home her mother left behind. Byrd arrived in 1998 and quickly became a mother figure to Herlene as well.
“She was always five miles ahead of me on our walks,” Herlene said with a smile. “She taught me to never say ‘I can’t.’”
Byrd’s greatest joy, Greggie said, came from watching her children and extended family persevere — chasing careers and dreams despite the setbacks they faced.
Today, Byrd lives alone, but she is never far from the people who love her. Gwendolyn frequently takes the train from Jacksonville, Florida, to check in, take her to appointments and attend services with her at Macedonia Baptist Church in Guyton, Georgia. When she can’t be there, she calls daily.
“Hearing her voice is a reminder of God’s blessings,” Gwendolyn said.
Byrd also has a devoted church family that makes sure she gets to Sunday services.
A Birthday Fit for a Queen
The celebration was everything the family had hoped for. Byrd wore the dashiki she had sewn 15 years earlier and smiled as guests packed the living room and kitchen. Silver “100” balloons floated above a fruit basket on the table. Loved ones filled plates with ribs, fried chicken, string beans and mashed potatoes.
Gwendolyn and Katie’s daughter-in-law, Shranda, helped light the birthday candles and slice the cake. Family members broke into not one, but two rounds of “Happy Birthday” before Byrd made her wish and blew out the candles to a chorus of cheers.
Throughout it all, Byrd remained the steady, joyful presence at the heart of the family.
“Just do what God has commanded you to do,” she said. “When you ask Him for His patience, understanding and wisdom each day, everything will turn out fine.”
