Elizabeth Smith Jackson Byrd, 95, of Otto, NC passed away Tuesday, September 25, 2007.

Born in Clarkston, GA, she was preceded in death by her father, Franklin Gordon Smith; her mother, Fay Pendleton Smith Hill; her brothers, Eugene and Henry Smith.

Elizabeth attended O'Keefe High School in Atlanta, GA. During the depression, she traveled throughout the southeast selling neckties. On July 17, 1938, she married John Seay Jackson, after he learned to dance. They lived in Atlanta, GA, where their three children were born. John died of a heart attack on April 19, 1953. Elizabeth worked for six years at the Internal Revenue Service.

After sending her three children to college, Elizabeth married Lee R. Byrd on August 15, 1969. They met when Lee lived next door to Mom and Pop Ervay, the parents of Elizabeth's best friend, Ann Hickson. Elizabeth and Lee lived in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, then later moved to Atlanta, GA.

Elizabeth enjoyed country living. She found her dream home in the mountains of Otto, NC in 1981, while accompanying a friend who was looking to buy a small cabin in the area. Elizabeth peered inside the windows of the vacant house, later known as Byrd's Nest, fell in love with it, and said that she had found her home. She and Lee moved in six weeks later and lived there until 2007, when they moved into Britthaven Nursing Home in Franklin, NC.

Elizabeth loved cooking, square dancing, and visiting with friends who would drop by and sit in the rockers on the front porch. She had numerous friends of all ages, many who adopted her as a second mother. She often said that the friends she made throughout her life were her greatest wealth. Elizabeth also loved animals and raised many cats and dogs throughout her life. She has requested that her ashes be scattered among the graves of her beloved animals at Byrd's Nest.

Elizabeth is survived by her husband, Lee R. Byrd of Otto, NC; her daughters, Virginia Jackson of Seattle, WA, and Eugenia Jackson of San Francisco, CA; her son, John S. Jackson, Jr. of Orlando, FL; her step son and daughter-in-law Wayne and Genene Byrd of Otto, NC; and numerous grand and great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service for Lee and Liz will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, October 27, 2007 at Newman Chapel Baptist Church.

Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences @www.maconfuneralhome.com

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