Frances Guerieri Byrd

“ To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow.” – Maya Angelou

Those words impeccably personify one of God’s quintessential mothers, Frances Guerieri Byrd, 86, of Jonesboro, who died Dec. 31 at the Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro.

She was endearing, loving, humorous, caring and sweet, yet lionhearted. She could be a formidable force of nature, fiery when determined, calming when needed. She enriched the lives of those around her, whether stranger, close friend or family. She was gregarious, sentimental and unflappable in a crisis. She had a hint of zaniness to make life interesting for herself and others. She brought joy, hope, laughter and love to the lives of family and friends. Imagine the sun, and you can gauge her heart’s magnitude and the brilliant light she radiated. She was angelic, caring, gentle and loving, but strong-willed, a “spitfire” if prompted, like a mother bear with cub – very protective of family. She was sassy but classy, tough as nails, but could mirror Mother Theresa. Frances was a wordsmith, and never too shy to talk or speak her piece (she could out-wit or debate anybody). Her strength, character, devotion, love, kindness and respect for others and their opinions was unrivaled. She radiated honesty and integrity, but her best trait was perhaps her devotion to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, possessing a natural penchant to nurture, love and care for them. Her greatest joy in life was holding a baby, who instinctively felt safe in her embrace. Those famous long hugs she gleefully offered brought great comfort and peace to those so blessed to receive one. If you were hungry – or even if you weren't – she fed you. If you needed a shoulder to cry on, her compassion was unmatched. If you asked for good advice – or if you didn’t – or simply needed to bend her ear, she was always there, unselfishly and unconditionally.

All of this was a testament to her strength and character. Her wisdom, fashioned in the template of Socrates, and soulful desire to educate and inspire her children, teach them to be self-thinkers and to explore the world and other cultures, was instrumental in grooming them for life successes.

Frances was a devout Catholic and a member of Blessed Sacrament in Jonesboro. She was a lifelong philanthropist and donated to many charities, and to Blessed Sacrament Church and the Newman Center.

Frances was born April 12, 1932, in South Plainfield, New Jersey, attended school there and in Cleveland, Mississippi, and lived for the past 63 years in Jonesboro. She is survived by a son, William Warren Byrd II (Sammye) of Jacksonville, Arkansas; a brother, Phil Guerieri of Fort Worth, Texas, and a sister, Gloria McClellan of Cleveland, Mississippi; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Frances Guerieri, her husband, William “Bill” Byrd, longtime biology and zoology professor at Arkansas State University; and three daughters, Michele Hegwood, Gloria Byrd-Dixon and Kimberly Shepherd; and one grandson, Clint Hegwood.

A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with Father Alphonse Gollapalli officiating. A rosary prayer service will begin at 10 a.m. Emerson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The family requests that donations be made to the ASU Foundation [Memo: William W. Byrd Lab Fund], PO Box, 1990 State University, Arkansas 72467 or Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1107 East Highland Drive, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401.