Simmie Ione Marie Byrd

GARNER- Simmie Ione Marie Byrd, 18, died Wednesday.  Marie was loved by many, including friends at WYWLA, St. Augustine College and East Carolina University, where she was majoring in biology with the desire to pursue a career as a Zoologist. From a very young age, Marie loved all God’s creatures; spiders, turtles, cats, dogs, there was nothing she was afraid of. She had 2 cats, 3 dogs and a hamster that she adored. She enjoyed Anime and becoming in Character and had many friends with whom she enjoyed doing Cosplay.  Her first love was playing soccer. She played club soccer for CASL; GCAA, Cherokee Impact and was currently playing intermural soccer at ECU. Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Sunday at First Baptist Church of Garner. The family will receive friends at the church following the service. Burial will be on Monday at 11:00 am at Historic Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh. Survivors include her mother, Simmie Lowery (Tim); sisters, Sherri Fowler, Amy Karnes (Paul), Maria Alba, Desirae Alba; brother, Enrique Alba; half-sister, Trudy Byrd; aunts, Linda Kreider, Tammie Williams (Ben) , Sandy Sewell, Kandy Swancey,  Tanya Brewer (David); uncle, Randy Peacock (Dawn); grandparents, Peggy Fulghum (Ron) and Rev. Leo & Linda Lowery, as well as a large and loving extended family. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, William Franklin Peacock.