Lillian McDaniel Byars

Lillian McDaniel Byars, age 99, was called to her eternal home on December 16, 2024. Due to inclement weather predicted for the greater Atlanta area,  the date of the Celebration of Life for Lillian Byars was changed and will now be held on January 18, 2025,  2:00 pm, at Mount Pisgah Church, 2850 Old Alabama Rd., Johns Creek, GA 30022.

Lillian was born in Baltimore MD on March 14, 1925, and grew up with her family on a tobacco farm near Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. After returning to the United States in the early 1940’s, they lived in the Washington DC area. She applied for Nursing Cadet training in the early part of WWII, where she met Jack Carlton Byars in Tampa FL who was in training to be a crew member on the B-17 Bomber, Army Air Corp. Although Lillian did not enter the Nursing Cadet Training, they corresponded during the war and married afterwards in 1946. They settled in Jacksonville, FL where work was available for Jack. Like so many of the Greatest Generation, they had endured the Depression years as well as World War II hardships, and returning soldiers took their new brides wherever they could find work.

Lillian and 20 other new wives formed a social group to assist each other in raising children far away from their own families. The group, “20 Club”, made lifetime friendships and stayed together for over 50 years. She was employed periodically with the IRS and Civil Service. Lillian’s highest priority however was to her family, and she was a devoted mother fully engaged in her two children’s and husband’s activities with pride for all their achievements. Her family and friends also appreciated her talents as excellent cook and seamstress. She taught herself to drive, taught her children about the Lord’s unconditional love, and made sure they went to church.

Lillian loved gardening and flowers, took up line-dancing as a senior until balance issues interfered, enjoyed painting, and most of all winning at Bingo! She also loved to travel and her adventurous side led to several RV trips across US and Canada with friends as well as trips to Europe, and to Japan with daughter, Sandi. She was always up for something outdoors that involved viewing the mountains, changing leaves, waterfalls, the beach, or watching birds at the feeder. After Jack’s passing in1997, Lillian lived independently until after her 90th Birthday in 2015 when in she moved to the Atlanta area where she made new friends.

She was a beautiful remarkable lady, whose resilience and ability to overcome adversity contributed to a long, full and well-loved life. Her unconditional love contributed to many cherished and funny moments that will long be remembered by those who experienced them.

Lillian was preceded in death by her husband Jack Byars, Sr., Mother Irene Trowbridge, Stepfather Leroy Trowbridge, younger brother Carson Jr. (Iwo Jima, age 17), younger sister Barbara Hays (Woodson Hays). She is survived by daughter Sandra B. Dunbar (David) and son Jack “Carl” Byars, Jr. (Janice), granddaughter Lindsay Rucker (Cameron), great-grandson David Dunbar and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable donations to the Mt. Pisgah Church Caring Ministry in memory of Lillian. To donate, checks may be sent to Mount Pisgah Church, 2850 Old Alabama Rd., Johns Creek, GA 30022 OR visit https://mountpisgah.tpsdb.com/Give/designated-giving and choose the Good Samaritan Fund, OR give to a charity of your choice.