Mrs. Theora Lindsey Byrd, a native South Carolinian, was reared in Norristown, PA. At an early age, she became actively involved in the youth organizations of Mt. Zion AME Church.

Upon graduation from high school, she received an award for the highest academic achievement among black students from the NAACP. At Allen University, Columbia, S.C. Mrs. Byrd earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education. While at Allen she was inducted into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society.

Mrs. Byrd is married to Bishop Vernon R. Byrd, 10th elected and consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She is the mother of four children and seven grandchildren.

She assisted Bishop Byrd at five pastoral charges, a Presiding Elder’s District, and as a former Episcopal Supervisor of the Women’s Missionary Society in the 14th, 16th, 13th and 5th Episcopal Districts.

Mrs. Byrd became a Life Member of the Connectional Women’s Missionary Society in 1986 from the Sierra Leone Conference in West Africa. In 199l, she served as a Delegate to the 16th World Methodist Conference, held in Singapore, representing the 13th Episcopal District of the church.

Daily, Mrs. Bryd strives to live up to one of her favorite passages of scripture: “Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."