Linda Byars

August 12, 2024

WBBJ Staff,

Linda Byars
1939 – 2024

Linda Rankhorn Byars, age 84, resident of Somerville, Tennessee and wife of the
late Charles Morris Byars, Sr., jumped into the arms of Jesus on Friday
afternoon, August 9, 2024 at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville,
Tennessee.
Linda was born September 27, 1939 in Moscow, Tennessee, the daughter of the
late Robert Lee Rankhorn and Eugenia Winborn Simmons Rankhorn. She
graduated from Fayette County High School in 1957 and was married December
20, 1958 to Charles Morris Byars, Sr. who preceded her in death on January 7,
2016.
Mrs. Byars was employed as a pharmacy technician at Wal-Mart in Collierville for
many years before her retirement. She was a house mother at Baptist Children’s
Home and previously worked at GE in the production line. Linda was the co-
owner of Williston Auction Barn. She was a previous member of Morris Memorial
Baptist Church in Moscow and most recently a member of Oakland First Baptist
Church. She enjoyed making greeting cards, working crossword puzzles, baking
cakes and sewing with her specialty was making clothes.
Mrs. Byars is survived by her daughter, Tammye Byars (Tom Ellis); two sons,
Charles Byars (Dianne) and Andy Byars (Connie); two grandsons, Charles S.
Byars and David Byars; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her
husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Booth and
her brother, Forrest Rankhorn.
A visitation for Mrs. Byars will be from 12 noon until 2 P.M. Thursday, August 15,
2024 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland. Funeral Services will be at
2 P.M. Thursday, August 15, 2024 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at
Oakland with Bro. Bryan Morris, former pastor of Morris Memorial Baptist Church
in Moscow, officiating. Interment will follow in the Fayette County Memorial Park
Cemetery on Highway 64.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers will be Darryl Bonner, Charles S. Byars,
David Byars, Jared Baker, John Wesley Day and Ken Reeves. Honorary
pallbearers will be Royce Reeves, Jimmy Joyner, John Day, Gary Joyner, Rick
Booth and Steve Reeves.
The family requests that memorials be directed to Baptist Reynolds Hospice
House, 1520 W. Poplar Avenue, Collierville, TN 38017.