Gwendolyn Spencer Byrd 55, of 371 Ellerbe Grove Church Road Rockingham died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2009 at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.

She was born Sept. 19, 1954 in Richmond County to Venetta Spencer Hardaway and Lee William Smith.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009 at 2 p.m. at Bethel United Methodist Church with Rev. Earnest J. Reece and Elder William Harrington officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Surviving are her husband Jesse Byrd of the home, three sons, Johnny McNair of Austell, Ga., Robert K. Neal of Rochester, N.Y., and Rashad Neal of Rockingham; two daughters, Shelia Watkins and Reneisha Neal of Rockingham. Her mother Venetta S. Hardaway and step father Willie Hardaway of Rockingham, two brothers Lee William Smith, Jr., and Andrew Smith of Lilesville, one sister Janette Little of Rockingham, grandchildren and nine grandchildren.

Public viewing will be held Friday from 1-7 p.m. at McNeil Funeral Home Chapel.

McNeil Funeral Home of Rockingham is in charge of the arrangements.