Evelyn Byrd

Mary Evelyn Byrd (Jenkins), “Evelyn”, 95, died peacefully on January 18, 2024.

She was born on May 9, 1928 at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. to

George R. and Lydia Mae Jenkins. Raised as a farm girl on various farm properties

in rural Charles County she loved the outdoors and, as she often said “digging in

the dirt.” She had a strong sense of frugality and a work ethic that served her

throughout her life.

She went to Lackey High School in Indian Head where she caught the eye of

Johnny Byrd, a new kid who had moved up from Bluefield, WVA. Johnny was the

athletic class clown who spurned all the “in crowd” town girls for the shy beautiful

“bus riding” farm girl. She was the prettiest princess in the homecoming court

according to Johnny. They quickly became an item and remained one for almost

72 years, marrying on July 31, 1948. During those years, Evelyn trained as a

secretary and worked at the Census Bureau. Her typing and shorthand prowess

were the envy of the other office staff and she would often use shorthand around

the house requiring interpretation for the family. (Her children, Janet and John,

were very frustrated every Christmas as all gift lists were in shorthand.) She

became a stay-at-home Mom and homemaker. She went back to work for the

Prince George’s Community College then the Prince George’s County school

system as a secretary once both kids were in school fulltime.

She loved family, kids, her pets, gardening, spending time at Ocean City or any

beach for that matter, singing or humming while she worked, sewing (she was a

proficient seamstress and made or altered all manner of clothing, custom

upholstery and draperies well into her later years), watching baseball (she was an

avid Nats and Indian Head Indians fan) sweets, classic movies, reading the paper,

eating crabs, listening to music and spending time on her screened porch in the

summer.

She was loving, kind, gracious, generous, strong-willed, resilient, supportive,

protective, accepting, and patient (unless Johnny or the kids were misbehaving).

She was active in the St. John the Evangelist community throughout her time in

Clinton and made lifelong friends there. She maintained a deep faith in God her

whole life. Her Rosary was her constant source of comfort.

She is predeceased by her husband, both parents, and her brother George Robert

Jenkins, Jr “Bobby”.

She is survived by her two children, Janet (Tom) Sherlock and John (Melinda)

Byrd, grand children Jessica and Christian (Sarah) Sherlock, sister Lorraine Murphy

and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers or as a tribute to Evelyn, the family suggests donations can be

made to St. John the Evangelist Church, Clinton, MD, the Maryland Food Bank, or

Last Chance Animal Rescue.