Barry D. Byers, ROCK HILL - Mr. Barry D. Byers, Herald Assistant Sports Editor, died Friday, Oct. 18, 2013. He was 61. Services will be held at a later date. Born March 27, 1952, in Abbeville, S.C., Barry was the son of the late Ernest Byers and Edith H. Byers of Rock Hill. A 1970 graduate of Rock Hill High School, Barry's lifelong love affair with the newspaper business began with a paper route. While still employed with Verona Dyestuffs (Mobay), Barry was attending a ballgame and was approached by former Herald sportswriter Earl Gault about the possibility of being a stringer. In the fall of 1983, Barry started his writing career by covering Lewisville High School football games. He left Verona to work at The Herald full time in 1989. He was a champion of high school sports--not only writing about the ball games, but also the athletes: their personal triumphs, tragedies and unique stories. He was a mentor to many aspiring writers and made friends throughout the state and established contacts across the country. He kept track of every athlete he wrote about and could recall stats, scores and plays years after they had occurred. He considered many of his subjects to be extended family and welcomed them into his home and his life. Barry often said that the only other career he would have enjoyed would have been to coach high school football. He had the opportunity to coach the Lewisville football team for one game in 2004 and achieved a perfect record of 1-0. For many years, Barry coached several Rock Hill area little league baseball, youth football and basketball teams and followed the lives and careers of his former players. When he wasn't at a ballgame, writing about a ballgame or talking about a ballgame, he enjoyed time with his family, driving vacations, watching movies and television and entertaining friends. In addition to his mother, Barry is survived by his wife of 35 years, Dawn; three daughters, April D. Byers (Jay Neely) and Carly B. Moxley (Hunter), both of Rock Hill and Becky D. Byers of Hickory, N.C.; his grandchildren, Hunter A. Moxley, Kelsey N. Turner and Vonn Turner, all of Rock Hill; his brother, Brad Byers (Joi); his sisters, Gayla B. Williams (Larry) and Kim B. Smith (Bud), all of Rock Hill; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Special thanks to Dr. Kathryn Mileham of Levine Cancer Institute and her caring staff, Robin and Joann; and to Hospice & Community Care. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, at Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel, 2133 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill, S.C. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice & Community Care, the Rock Hill Rescue Squad, or the high school athletic booster club of one's choice. Condolences may be made at www.greenefuneralhome.net.

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