Hassel A Byrd, Jr, 76, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at Duke University Medical Center.

He was born on the 23rd of June 1950 to Hassel Allen Sr and Luisa Blacknall Byrd, both deceased, their second of four children. He was a loyal son and brother. He lived the simple, yet very rich life of a little farm boy in Caswell County, growing into the handsome, intelligent and driven young man that would ask Dianne Campbell to become his bride upon graduation from Barlett Yancey High School in 1968. They wed in 1969 and were married for 57 years!

Dianne completed nursing school and would begin her lifetime career of nursing while Hal pursued his Associates in Business, Bachelors of Technology and Masters in Adult Education. Hal was drafted into the US Army in 1971, taking he and Dianne to Fort Benning in Georgia, where they started their family with Amanda Michelle being born on the base. They returned to Burlington and soon after Joanna Lynn was born in 1974. They would build their first home together on McCray Rd in Burlington, where Ashley Elizabeth was born, inching them closer to the dream Hal had to settle on his own farm.

While maintaining full-time jobs (Hal, Burlington Industries and Dianne, Alamance County Hospital), three girls, and vibrant extended family life, Hal decided to throw in a bid on a property on Union Ridge Rd. Thus began one of Hal’s largest undertakings of his lifetime—restoring the farm house in Union Ridge. Many friends and family shared good times during this several-years-long project. Dianne worked triple-time to keep it all going while Hal poured literal blood, much sweat and surely some tears into the place that would become his pride and joy, where he would store his various and sundry things and his family would make a home.

As if this had not been enough, all the while Hal grew tobacco for years, which helped them put their girls through college… but he’d have done it anyway because he really did just love the process. He gardened extensively, took on projects right and left, made a second job out of collecting, cutting and splitting wood to heat the house. He loved to work with wood. He loved to work in general, could not sit still—full-time, after hours and on the weekends, never slowing down because that’s simply the way Hal approached life—full-throttle.

Despite it all, Hal Byrd made time for hunting as often as possible… and we really mean AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. He may have had all girls, but he gained three sons-in law—Matt, Charlie and Rodolfo. Hal has been the quintessential “Papa” to his grandchildren, Campbell, Marlie, Rachel, Jackson, Ruben & Florence. He loved to shower them with attention, getting in the floor to play with them from infancy on up to introducing them to all manner of experiences along the way—making molasses, preserves and apple cider, shooting targets, fishing, splitting wood…the list goes on. He loved to give gifts and make sure the grands never ran out of treats!

Anyone who knows Hal Byrd knows he would give you the shirt off his back or at least a few melons, some greens, okra, potatoes or a bucket of beans! He loved his family, his home, his community, the land and nature with every fiber of his being. He will be very sorely missed by so many and our world will not be the same without him! Please join us in remembrance and celebration of his life. Think of the wonderful times you shared with him.

A celebration of Hal's life will be held at 3:00pm on Sunday, October 25, 2026 at Glencoe Baptist Church. A reception will follow in the Worship Center where the family will receive friends and loved ones.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Glencoe Baptist Church, the Wildlife Federation or the AuthoraCare Collective (Hospice).