Hugh Hunter Byrd

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Hugh Hunter Byrd passed away Monday, Oct. 31, 2022.

He was born May 26, 1938, in Cape Girardeau to the late Thomas Albert Byrd and Helen Swayne Byrd, both of Charleston.

He attended The Webb School and then went on the attend University of Missouri, University of the South and Vanderbilt University, where in 1962 he graduated with a degree in biology.

After college, Hugh returned home to operate and expand the family farm operation as a fourth-generation farmer. He loved Charleston, and was related to many of its founding members. He enjoyed the historical connection to the land and felt a binding responsibility to continue that legacy. Once home, he became active in politics, served on the Levee Board, and was a long running member of the Delta Growers Association Board of Directors. In addition, he also served on the Board of Trustees at The Webb School for many years.

Outside of Charleston, Hugh Hunter was an avid skier, showing up to the inaugural season at Vail, Colorado, and spending many winters in Aspen, Colorado. He could be found on the slopes nearly every year until giving it up in his late 70s. He found it easy to make friends on the slopes, and many became lifelong connections. While at Sewanee and Vanderbilt, he also made friends in his fraternity and throughout middle Tennessee. He could be found at every social gathering from Monteagle Mountain to Memphis, Nashville and beyond. He joined the Air National Guard out of Nashville just to give himself a “legitimate” excuse to spend more time with his friends in Tennessee.

It was on one of these adventures where he was introduced to Paula Sherrill Marks, and after a little convincing, she finally accepted his invitation to attend Steeplechase in Nashville. The rest was history and they were married for 34 years, raising two sons and living out his dream on the Pulltight farm, where you could only see one other porch light. She was his rock throughout his life and added much to improve his, at times, basic tastes.

He loved New Orleans jazz, blues, Motown and generally anything you could dance to — and dance he did. He often joked he was the luckiest farmer he had ever known, and the essayist and writer Sam Pickering once noted that he was “the South’s greatest dancing man,” a title he was honored to accept.

He loved to hike in the mountains, and at age 63 convinced his son and his son’s two best friends to climb Grand Teton. Other interests included walking his fields, working in his woods and touring the county, cleaning it up one piece at a time.

He was a man of God, who could be caught nightly saying prayers before bed. He once said that all he asked for in this life was two sons, so he always felt like he had won the lottery. Between his wife and his children, he knew he was blessed.

He spent his life working the land, raising two sons, being a dedicated husband, and was unendingly humble about what he was given.

He loved creating habitat for the wildlife on his farm and was in constant awe of the natural world. He was kind to animals great and small and was known to adopt a varied array to include a raccoon and squirrel, as well as the many stray dogs and cats that found their way to the farmhouse.

There are so many stories that it seems impossible to do justice for a life so large but to those who knew him, many will take satisfaction that they have their own Hugh Hunter story. That was his gift to everyone. His sense of humor, his slightly devilish smile, his hugs and his loud boisterous laughter will be greatly missed. He was always up to something and he loved to make people happy. On top of those stories, of which there are many, he also had a sincerity that was unmatched — calling friends and checking on relatives often. When he said he loved you, he meant it and then some.

He was a father, a husband, a farmer, a Southerner and a friend to people from all walks of life.

He was proud of the farm and the relationships that surrounded it, most notably a recent celebration of 100 years working together with the McCann family.

His zest for life lives on through the many stories and memories in our hearts.

He is survived by his two sons, Nelson (Melania) and Hudson Byrd; and a grandson, Andrew Wylder Byrd, all of Charleston.

The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until the funeral hour at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at United Methodist Church in Charleston.

A funeral service will then be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205.

Hugh Hunter will be placed to rest next to his wife, Sherrill, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at Monteagle Sunday School Assembly Cemetery, at Monteagle.

Following the funeral service at St. George’s Church, a celebration of life will be held Tuesday at Belle Meade Country Club, 815 Belle Meade Blvd., Nashville, TN 37205.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the following or one of your choosing: The Webb School, 319 Webb Road E, Bell Buckle, TN 37020; Mississippi County Historical Society, 403 N. Main St., Charleston, MO 63834; The University of the South, 735 University Ave., Sewanee, TN 37383; or Charleston Revitalization Movement, 208 S. Main St., Charleston, MO 63834.

McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston is in charge of arrangements.