Esteemed Dyersburg Woman Dies At Home Here Late Wednesday

Mrs. Mary Alice Byars, 56, wife of H. L. Byars, Dyersburg business man, and a beloved resident of the city, died late Wednesday afternoon at their home here on Connell avenue. Her death followed an illness of several days.

She was a daughter of J. J. Jackson, well known Dyer county farmer, and was born and reared in the county where she was well known and esteemed. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and engaged in church activities. A charitable neighbor, she was loved by both adults and children.

She is survived by her husband, a daughter, Miss Pett Byars of Dyersburg; three brothers, General Jackson of Ripley; Tom Jackson and Stonewall Jackson of Finley; a sister, Mrs. Etta Roark of St. Louis.

Services were held at the residence at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon with her pastor, the Rev. H. L. Hinch, officiating. Burial was in Fairview cemetery.

Pallbearers were David Bright, Dr. J. E. Hays, J. A. McAfee, Robert Cloar, Clarence Williamson and Bowde Poston.

J. W. Curry and Sons of Dyersburg had charge of the funeral arrangements.

Mary Alice Jackson, was first married to John W. Presley, who died in 1899. With John, she at at least two, and possibly three daughters: Lena J. Presley, who died young and is buried in Pleasant Hill near her father; Pett, who was born a year before John died, but later took the last name of her step-father, Harley Byars, when Mary remarried; and possibly the Joella Presley, who married Will Hamilton in 1910.