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Obituaries

Obituary for Odella Byrd Odella Byrd
"Boots" Dies At Age 75

Sunday, January 15, 2017, heaven became a reality to Boots, a unique and genuine person.

She was born in Northern Virginia on June 25, 1941, to parents of German and Native American heritage.

After losing her mother at an early age, she and her only brother, George Javins, Jr., who survives her, moved to Bath County with family.

She was small in physical stature, but was filled with a bounty of determination, sass, heart, and an endless spirit.

She was a self-taught musician who in her lifetime played multiple instruments to include, piano, banjo, dulcimer, trumpet, autoharp, and guitar. She was proudly left handed and would re-tune a guitar, turn it upside down and play it, all by ear.

If she could hear it she could play it. Along with playing music, she loved to dance or as she called, "Flatfoot". It was never a surprise to find her "Rockin her holler", with the likes of the Carter Family, George Jones or her favorite singer, Tom T. Hall, and quietly dancing along.

She was a writer of poems, songs, short stories and opinions. She readily shared her opinions, but most of her writing she just shared with family.

The outdoors were the majority of her being. She loved the woods, and often commented on their stillness, their smell and the comfort that she drew from them.

She was a master gardener; her sunflowers were always taller and her lilies sweeter. She knew nearly every bird by name and song. The squirrels In her yard were her family. She loved to fish and always out-fished us. When fall came, the deer feared her.

She was accurate with a bow and arrow, muzzle loader, and her trusty 30-30.

She loved the early mornings and believed that God led the sun across the sky each day. She loved taking pictures of all the things in nature that made her happy. She was an accomplished whistler. She preferred camoflauge. She loved to cook and bake. She loved beagles.

She was a mom and mentor to Kathy, Billie Jean and Ruth, whom she loved. She was a grandmother to Katy, Amy, Ethan, Beth, and John. She was granny and a hero to a special grandson, Christopher, and a great grandmother to Maggie Mae.

For 35 years she shared her life with her special companion, Lemuel Robinson.

She also leaves behind her loving cat, Purrdy.

The services for her, at her request, will be private.

She had always told us she wanted her flowers while she was living, so in lieu of them at this time, memorial donations may be made in her honor to Grace Bible Camp, 111 Bible Camp Lane, Goshen, VA 24439.

She hated snakes, thunder and obituaries that run on way too long.

So to end, I will say she was a talented and intelligent woman, who enjoyed her life in a very simple way. She never failed to thank God for his blessings every day, and now in Heaven, she enjoys the rest He has promised.