SAN ANTONIO — Gwendolyn Sandles Byrd celebrated a remarkable milestone on Saturday, March 21, marking her 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends, and a lifetime of cherished memories.
Born on March 21, 1926, in the Greenbriar Community of Madison County, Texas, Byrd was the daughter of minister William Matthew Sandles and homemaker Alma Addie Mitchell Sandles. She attended school in Greenbriar before moving to Calvert at age 8 and later graduated from Charlton Pollard High School in Beaumont in 1943.
Byrd pursued higher education at Prairie View and Mary Allen Colleges before relocating to San Antonio, where she married Napoleon Byrd Jr. and built a life centered on family, faith, and service. She dedicated 25 years to Kelly Air Force Base and later served her community with the Bexar County Elections Department as a clerk and elections judge.
Over the years, she raised three children — Dr. Lanier Byrd, Deborah Byrd, and Darwin Byrd — and now enjoys a growing family that includes three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Those close to Byrd say her warmth shines as brightly as her longevity. She enjoys church music, loves to sing at home, and counts the song “Echo” as her favorite. Her secret to a long life is simple: take care of yourself, enjoy life, and maintain a sweet, positive attitude.
At 100 years old, Gwendolyn Sandles Byrd is not just celebrating a birthday but a century of love, resilience, and a spirit that leaves a lasting impression on all who know her.
