Robert W. "Bobby" Byrd's Obituary
Robert W. “Bobby” Byrd, 79, of Belleair, Florida passed away December 31, 2019. Bobby was the second of four children born on November 5, 1940 to Benjamin Franklin Byrd and Evelyn Hill Byrd in Monroe, Georgia. Bobby was always a standout in everything that he did with a work ethic that was discovered at an early age and never waned throughout his lifetime. His first jobs began at the age of 5, when he sold eggs for his grandmother, swept leaves under the pecan trees and delivered papers in town. That training would culminate into a lifetime of extremely successful sales in the real estate industry.
Bobby attended and graduated from Abbeville High School in Abbeville, South Carolina. During his high school career, Bobby played football, basketball, baseball, played in the high school band, and drove the school bus. He went on to continue his education at Florida State University, where his lifelong enthusiasm for the FSU Seminoles was born. At FSU, Bobby joined the Kappa Alpha Fraternity where he served as Vice President, and went on to become involved in the student senate and eventually be elected to Student Body president. In his role as President, Bobby was one of the chief recruiters for the FSU football team. Many of those young men that he recruited to become Seminoles would prove to be lifelong best friends. In later years, Bobby’s involvement with the Seminole Boosters and the Golden Chiefs were a source of great pride and immense fulfillment for him.
After graduating FSU, Bobby went on to join the United States Marine Corp in Pensacola and would spend six years as a naval aviator and would serve as a Captain in the USMC. Pensacola is where he met and began dating his first wife of 27 years, Bonnie Patten Byrd. Over the course of his military career, Bobby flew 465 mission earning him 23 medals, including The Distinguished Flying Cross awarded for his heroic role in life threatening situations.
Bobby and Bonnie eventually moved to Atlanta, Georgia where Bobby worked for Merrill Lynch and they began a life together of raising two wonderful boys, Brant and Brooks. Both sons were the true pride and joy of Bobby’s life.
Bobby and Bonnie moved to Belleair, FL in 1974 where he began his real estate career. That career would develop Bobby’s next chapter in life and experience as he would eventually go on to establish Bobby Byrd Real Estate, BBRE Eshenbaugh, and finally the Byrd Corporation. In his time at BBRD, he went on to become the President of The Florida Association of Realtors and the Vice Chairman of The Legal Action Committee for The National Association of Realtors. When Bobby eventually sold Bobby Byrd Real Estate to Coldwell Banker in 1996, it was the largest real estate company in North Pinellas County.
Both Bobby’s sons worked in partnership with him at Byrd Corporation developing high rise condominiums, townhomes and subdivisions until Bobby’s retirement from the business. It was a season of immense accomplishment and happiness for the family. He will always be remembered for his steadfast commitment to his career, his business partners, and his clients. He was the true embodiment of a man who’s word was as good as his bond.
Bobby was blessed with a second marriage of 18 years to Anne Jolley Thomas and had the opportunity to help raise another son in Corbett Proctor. Some of his best days were spent together with his collective family in Belleair, Tallahassee, and Boca Grande.
There were not many people in Bobby’s life that did not quickly become his friend. He was a man for others, who gave generously of his time, his enthusiasm, his service and his love. He was always the life of the party with an endless amount of stories to tell and adventures to share.
There were countless good times shared with family and friends on the ski slopes of Colorado and the waterways of Clearwater, Boca Grande and Key West. Some of his favorite memories were aboard the vessels shared with his sons to include the On Site, The 37-9, The High Cotton and The Jolley B. Good.
Bobby’s philanthropic and community involvement was extensive and included terms as President of Clearwater Rotary, President of the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, and The Donald Roebling Society of Morton Plant Mease Heathcare Foundation.
Besides his parents, Bobby is preceded in death by his brother Benjamin Franklin Byrd, Jr. He is survived by brother Johnny Byrd and sister in law Diane Byrd, Sister Betty Byrd, wives Bonnie Byrd and Anne Jolley Byrd, sons Brant Byrd and Brooks Byrd, Step Son Corbett Proctor, Daughters in Law Mary Beth Byrd and Alex Byrd, grandchildren Blakely Byrd, Britton Byrd, Bay Byrd and Balthazar Byrd.
Services will be held at Moss Feaster Funeral Home in Clearwater Florida on Friday January 10 with a gathering of friends at 5pm to be followed by a service at 6pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Abilities Foundation of Clearwater.
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