Charlene Garland Byrd of Gilmer County died on Friday, August 5, after a lengthy illness with heart disease.  She was 89.

Charlene loved her Lord, her family, and her native North Georgia hills.  She was born in the Whitestone community of south Gilmer County, and graduated from Gilmer High School. She moved to DeKalb County in the 1950s and spent her career as a telephone operator with Southern Bell - later AT&T. Upon her retirement in the 1980s she returned to Gilmer County, and lived in the Whitestone and Ellijay areas the remainder of her long life.

She is survived by her son, Robert E. Byrd Jr., and daughter-in-law, Michelle DeHaven, of Jekyll Island, Ga.; her granddaugher, Jennifer Byrd of Long Beach, Calif.; sister Brenda G. Richards of Ellijay; brothers Ben Garland of Jasper and Rex Garland of Ellijay; and a huge family of nieces, nephews, in-laws and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, Jesse Garland and Pearl Teem Garland; sisters Christine G. Stover and Betty G. Turner; brothers Charles, Howard and Robert Garland; and infant brother Gary Garland.

A graveside service will be conducted at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church at noon on Saturday, August 13, with the Rev. Dalton Morrow, Charlene's great-nephew, presiding.  Prior to the service, the family will receive friends and relations from 10-11:30 a.m. at Bernhardt Funeral Home.

Bernhardt Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.