Dr Marilyn Smither Byrd
- Member for
- 16 years 8 months 12 days
- Find a Grave ID
Bio
Dr. Marilyn Smither Byrd is the managing agent for Southend Cemetery and Chairperson of the Southend Cemetery Association. Her ancestors purchased the 5-acre tract of land in Walker County, Texas that is currently known as Southend Cemetery in 1919.
My story:
I am a researcher by professional affiliation and a genealogical researcher by passion. My family lineage includes the Charles/Scott descendants on my mother's side and the Smither/Lacy/ Hightower descendants on my Dad's side.
Southend was originally indexed by my cousin Ronald Hightower (deceased 2020) from the Homegoing records and obituaries of his mother, Dorothy Mae "Dot" Hightower. After his death, I assumed management of all Ronald's memorials at Southend. Most of my immediate deceased family members are buried at Southend cemetery. Southend Cemetery is historically linked to the Flat Neighborhood. The land for that neighborhood was acquired by Sam Houston State University in the 1970s. My current project is updating the memorials at Southend and linking individuals to the Flat Neighborhood to preserve not only their memories, but the memory and legacy of a neighborhood that was once the home of numerous Black American families who became displaced.
Dr. Marilyn Smither Byrd is the managing agent for Southend Cemetery and Chairperson of the Southend Cemetery Association. Her ancestors purchased the 5-acre tract of land in Walker County, Texas that is currently known as Southend Cemetery in 1919.
My story:
I am a researcher by professional affiliation and a genealogical researcher by passion. My family lineage includes the Charles/Scott descendants on my mother's side and the Smither/Lacy/ Hightower descendants on my Dad's side.
Southend was originally indexed by my cousin Ronald Hightower (deceased 2020) from the Homegoing records and obituaries of his mother, Dorothy Mae "Dot" Hightower. After his death, I assumed management of all Ronald's memorials at Southend. Most of my immediate deceased family members are buried at Southend cemetery. Southend Cemetery is historically linked to the Flat Neighborhood. The land for that neighborhood was acquired by Sam Houston State University in the 1970s. My current project is updating the memorials at Southend and linking individuals to the Flat Neighborhood to preserve not only their memories, but the memory and legacy of a neighborhood that was once the home of numerous Black American families who became displaced.
