A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Shaw Funeral Home.

William "Bill" Jackson Byrd passed away peacefully at home at the age of 86.  William was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  He was born and raised in High Point, North Carolina.  After graduating from high school, Bill served his country honorably in the US Navy where he was the first African American in the engineering department on the S.S. Darby. Bill had a variety of interests.  He enjoyed outdoor life.  He loved boating and camping in the mountains, motorcycles and sports cars.  His favorite jazz musician was Erroll Garner.  He spent most evenings reading anything on the subject of how things work-mechanics. For much of his life he was a businessman.  Bill lived in Montclair, New Jersey for 33 years.  He was the original owner of B&H Vacuum Co. Inc., Upper Montclair, New Jersey.  Twenty years ago, he retired from the business and in 2014 he and his wife Hollis, relocated to the coast of North Carolina in Wilmington. Bill was such a special person.  He will be fondly remembered by family and friends as loving, kind, generous, talented, forgiving, charismatic, friendly and funny and a champion athlete in swimming. He is survived by: his wife, Hollis; daughters, Karen and Letrice; son, William Martin; grandsons, John, Dorian and Dreten; granddaughters, Riana, Tasha, Ava and Kenzie; brothers, Reverend Gary Wall and Daniel Oliphant III; great-grandchildren; sisters, Peggy, Cynthia and Rita Kay; nieces, nephews, a great-nephew and great-niece, and a host of family and friends.