Julie Byrd

Julie Kristen Byrd, 36, passed away December 5, 2021, at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. She was born October 29, 1985, in Forsyth County, the daughter of James Patrick Byrd and April Turner Peterson. She attended First Christian Church of Kernersville and was a 2004 graduate of Glenn High School. Julie had worked as a Pet Groomer and was a former volunteer at Kerner’s Folly and Activity Helper at Brookridge Assisted Living. Julie loved drawing, coloring, writing in her journal and pets and animals, her favorite being the Owl. An energetic person who was loved by all that knew her; she had been a loving caregiver to her sister for many years. Julie loved and adored her daughter Carolina more than anything in this world. She was preceded in death by her sister, Haley Peterson; her paternal grandfather, James Edward Byrd and her best friend from childhood, Dana Hemric.  Survivors include her daughter, Carolina Smith of Lexington; her mother, April Peterson of Lexington; her father, James Byrd of Kernersville; her brothers, David Byrd of Lexington, Josiah Peterson of Midway and Jamie Byrd of Mocksville; her maternal grandparents, Sandra Craven of Pulaski, TN and Terry Mitchell of Camden, TN; her paternal grandmother Phyllis Bethea of Kernersville; an aunt Connie Martinez of Winston-Salem; her great aunt and uncle, Diane and Tim Souther of Kernersville; her cousins Eddie Farrell of Winston-Salem and Amanda Pauley of Winston-Salem and the father of her daughter and friend, Kinny Smith of Lexington.  A Celebration of Julie’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Next Step Ministries, 233 W. Mountain St., Kernersville, NC 27284. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.