Mildred Byars

May 11, 1929 – August 8, 2025

Mildred (Mickey) Lucile Rhodes Byars age 96, of Montgomery, AL, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 8, 2025. Mrs. Byars was a member of First United Methodist Church, Montgomery, where she taught in the Elementary Department for many years and served as Circle Chairman.

Mickey was a graduate of Tuscaloosa High School where she received the DAR Good Citizen Award. She later received an Associate of Arts degree from Stephens College and received the Outstanding Service Award. She continued her education at the University of Alabama and received both B.S. and M.S. degrees in education.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Walter Ryland Byars, Jr., a partner in the law firm Steiner, Crum and Byars in Montgomery; her parents, Alleen Elizabeth Parker and Gilbert Alfred Rhodes, Sr., Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and one brother. She was survived by her children, Debbie (David) Patterson, Ryland (Teresa) Byars, Becky (late David) Pradat, and Baxter; her grandchildren, Erin (Seth), Olivia, Jon, Parker (Joseph), Meredith, Lucie (Hunter), Gunn, and Adair, and three great grandchildren, Jackson, Mary Catherine, and Paul; and a special family member and caregiver, Celeste Crenshaw. She often quoted Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Mrs. Byars received many awards including Who’s Who in American Women; The Hereditary Register of the USA; Liberty Bell Finalist and served as area chairman for the United Way and American Cancer Society; she was a member of the Birmingham Civiette Club for Aid to Cerebral Palsy Victims; Secretary for Lena Mae Black Parliamentary Unit; President, Corresponding Secretary of Edgewood Garden Club; Member, Ionian Literary Club; President, Alabama Historical Society; Treasurer for Republican Women, Montgomery County; founder and organizing advisor for chapters of Chi Omega Fraternity at Samford University and Huntingdon College and President of House Corporation for her sorority; and notably as State Regent Alabama Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution 1985-1988. Her devotion to DAR and DAR schools led her to membership on the Executive Board of Trustees, Kate Duncan Smith DAR School where she served as Parliamentarian. Until her death, Mickey remained a member of the Anne Phillips Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Benjamin Fenn Chapter of Colonial Dames XVII Century.

Funeral service will be held at First United Methodist Church, Montgomery on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Visitation at 10:00 am & Funeral at 11:00 am with interment following the service. The Rev. Jay D. Cooper will be officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, 6077 Main Street, Grant, AL 35747.