ELIZABETH CITY, NC – Byrd Bland Smith Barnes, 88, passed away peacefully at her home on March 25, 2018.

She was born August 2, 1929 in Elizabeth City, the only child of the late Albert Sydney Smith, Jr. and Billie Saunders Smith. She was the beloved wife of nearly sixty-five years of Thomas L. Barnes, Jr. Byrd worked as a secretary with the Secret Service at the White House during the Truman and Eisenhower administrations and enjoyed her time there as well as her enduring friendships with a number of the agents for many years after she resigned.

She is survived by a daughter, Judy Barnes Weber and husband William; a son, Thomas S. Barnes and wife, Andrea; two granddaughters, Kelly Weber Stefonowich and husband Timothy and Lindsay L. Weber. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, W. O. and Columbia Saunders and paternal grandparents, Albert and Sallie Smith.

We will remember Byrd as a loving wife and mother and a front-line celebrator of annual commemorations and holidays, especially Christmas. She loved to love, and she loved to laugh.

Friends and relatives are invited to attend her graveside service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at Old Hollywood Cemetery officiated by Rev. F. Joe Griffith. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation-America, 1250 24th St., NW, Washington, DC 20037. Twiford Funeral Home, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC is assisting the Barnes family. Online memorial condolences may be sent to the family at www.TwifordFH.com.