WILMINGTON — Katharine Iredell Harriss Byers, 95 of Wilmington NC, passed away Monday November 13, 2023, peacefully at her home.
Katharine was the daughter of the late Meares Harriss and Laura Weddell Harriss.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, George Burrell Byers, brothers Meares Harris Jr, Charles Johnson, John Weddell, Thomas Brown, sister Winifred Harriss Stephenson, niece Winifred Hoskins Stephenson, son-in-law Maurice Denerie Vezina Jr, and best friend Edie Sims.
She is survived by sisters Laura Harriss Head Vernon of Wilmington NC and Priscilla Harriss Cabell of Richmond VA, daughters Katharine Byers Tolley (James), Laura Byers Baer, Georgia Byers Vezina, granddaughters Stephanie Tyler Parker (Justin), Jessica Allen Tolley, Katharine Harriss Baer, Elizabeth Ann Baer, Victoria Jennings Baer, and great granddaughters Evelyn Sophia Parker, Abigail Mary Katharine Parker, and Alexa Denerie Tolley.
Katharine was born in Wilmington NC, on March 6, 1928. As a child she enjoyed taking car rides with her father, riding the trolley, and relaxing at Wrightsville Beach with her friends and family. Katharine met the love of her life George Burrell Byers while attending New Hanover High School. When asked about the night they met, she fondly recalled that while riding the train to a neighboring town for a football game he jokingly threw a balled-up piece of paper at her, and by the end of the night he told his friends that he knew he was going to marry her. After graduating NHHS in 1946, she attended the Women’s College of UNC in Greensboro. She then returned to Wilmington and married her high school sweetheart and WWII veteran George Burrell Byers, and she was happily married for 53 years before his passing in 2001.
Being a 7th generation Wilmingtonian, Katharine spent her life here working at several businesses, including Tide Water Power Company, Carolina Power and Light, the North Carolina State Ports Authority at its beginning in 1952, the Saline Water Plant at Wrightsville Beach (Struthers Scientific and International Corporation), and she eventually retired from Fox’s Holsum Bakery. Katharine loved spending her time helping others. In between jobs, she raised her three beautiful daughters while also being a substitute teacher for various New Hanover County schools and served two terms as PTA president at Bradley Creek Elementary School.
She also volunteered at the local senior center, both helping prepare food for Meals on Wheels and as a computer coach/tutor. She was a member of the Junior League of Wilmington and spent four years as Treasurer of North Carolina Sorosis Inc, where she met many of her closest friends and was elected Woman of the Year. She was a lifelong member of St. James Episcopal Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher, a member of the choir, and the Altar Guild.
Katharine was also a lifelong member of the Carolina Yacht Club [CYC] where she enjoyed many days of fellowship with friends and family. Undoubtedly, her favorite times spent at the CYC were BINGO nights. You could find her there every Tuesday night, with at least 4 cards in hand and ready to challenge even the very youngest of play
One of Katharine’s most notable passions was gardening, something she would joke about each year being a “science experiment.” She was pleased to see the growth and development of her garden, each year sharing her excitement with all her friends and family, especially her special cantaloupe. She shared her many camellia flowers – her favorite flower – with others, and proudly told stories of growing the many bushes around her house from seeds.
Katharine loved her family more than anything. She especially loved being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoyed every moment spent with them; sharing her favorite hobbies like cooking, gardening, sewing, and most of all reading. Being an avid reader, she frequently visited the public library in search of new literary adventures. She shared her love of reading with her children, grands, and great grands. The love became clear to all by the nickname created by her first grandchild, Stephanie Parker: “Grandbookie,” which translated as “Grandmama read me a book” and from then on, her family, friends, and everyone who met her affectionately knew her as Grandbookie and later as “Bookie.” Of all the things she accomplished in life, the most meaningful thing to her was being known as Grandbookie. Bookie regularly found herself in the middle of fun and shenanigans with her friends and family.
She was always up for an adventure like a Bloody Mary from Dockside to her favorite steak at Texas Roadhouse and dancing at the local ‘Drag the River’ drag show. She made life fun, and she enjoyed her life to the very end. She enjoyed celebrating her family’s accomplishments, and as Matriarch she was a rock during challenging times. She was a true blessing to all our lives and is loved and missed every day by everyone who was fortunate enough to meet her.
We love you so much Grandbookie. Life will never be the same without you!
Katherine’s funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 24, 2024, at St. James Episcopal Church, Third and Market Street, by Rev(s) Cheryl Brainard and Jim Papile. Immediately following the service inurnment will be at Oakdale Cemetery, 520 N 15th Street. The family will receive family and friends at a Celebration of Life at Olympia Restaurant, 5629 Oleander Drive #116 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., immediately following the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. James Episcopal Parish, 25 3rd Street Wilmington, NC 28401 or North Carolina Sorosis Inc, 20 Cardinal Drive S Wilmington, NC 28403.
