Cover photo for Evelyn Byrum's Obituary
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1919 Evelyn 2011

Evelyn Byrum

July 1, 1919 — July 12, 2011

Evelyn Gray Rothrock Byrum, 92, died on July 12, 2011, in Canton, NC, after a long period of declining health due to heart problems. Born in Winston-Salem on July 1, 1919, she was the oldest child of Walter Lawrence Rothrock and Addie Louella Todd Rothrock. She had one sister, Ruth Rothrock Pulch (deceased in 1979) and one brother, W.L. Rothrock, Jr., who died in infancy. In her youth, Mrs. Byrum attended the Forsyth County schools and joined Pine Grove United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. She graduated from Brevard College in 1939 and Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville, TN, in 1941 and later did graduate studies at George Peabody College in Nashville, TN. She worked as Pastor's Assistant and Director of Youth Activities at Front Street United Methodist Church in Burlington, NC, from 1941-1943. On June 1, 1943, she married R. Delbert Byrum, then a seminary student at Duke University and later a chaplain in the U.S. Navy toward the end of World War II. Next, she and her husband served on the staff of Centenary Methodist Church in Winston-Salem where she was Director of Children's Ministries. Her husband served seven pastoral appointments in the Western NC Conference and with the General Board of Education in Nashville, TN. Accompanying her husband, Mrs. Byrum sang in church choirs, taught children and youth, and worked in women's groups in the church and on the district level. She taught in week-day kindergarten programs in Nashville, TN, and in High Point, NC. She wrote nationally-published curriculum materials for children and their teachers and taught in leadership training and youth assemblies in the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church. She was active in the women's organizations of the United Methodist Church in the local church and on the district level and in the pastors' wives organizations. In addition, she enjoyed many travels with her husband, reading, homemaking, her family and their pets, and her church and faith. She was grateful for many good memories and great people who guided her through the years. Since December 2005, she resided at Silver Bluff Village in Haywood County, NC, where she made many new friends among the residents and staff and participated in making crafts and community life until her health prevented her. The family would like to thank the staff of Silver Bluff & Hospice of Haywood County, and the pastors and lay visitor Sherry Kellett of First United Methodist Church, Waynesville, for their care and concern in Mrs. Byrum's last years. Her husband died in 2003 after almost 60 years of marriage. Surviving are her daughter Adele Byrum Novotney and husband Andrew J. Novotney of Waynesville, NC; brother-in-law Darwin W. Byrum and sister-in-law Betty Byrum Martin, both of Charlotte, NC; 8 nieces and nephews, their spouses and children; and several cousins and friends. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 15, 2011 at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in High Point, NC with Reverend Dr. Richard Howle and Reverend J. Alexander Ward, Jr., officiating. A reception will follow in the Asbury Room at the church. Inurnment will be at Wesley Memorial UMC in High Point, NC, where she was a member for many years. At other times the family will receive friends at the daughter's residence in Waynesville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church (PO Box 18005, High Point, NC 27262), Waynesville-First UMC (P.O. Box 838 Waynesville, NC 28786), or to the charity of one's choice.

Previous Events

Visitation
Friday, July 15, 2011
2:00 PM 7/15/2011 2:00:00 PM
Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church Chapel

1225 Chestnut Drive
High Point, NC 27262

Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church Chapel
1225 Chestnut Drive High Point 27262 NC
United States
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