James Lanier Byrd, III, age 90, a resident of Charleston, died Friday, October 9, 2020.

Born June 22, 1930, at Cairo, Illinois, son of the late James Lanier Byrd, Jr. and Lucille Frisby Byrd, he was a life-long resident of Charleston, Missouri. Jim attended Charleston Public Schools through his second year of High School and then completed his High School education at the Shattuck Military Academy in Faribault, Minnesota. After High School, Jim attended Central Methodist University at Fayette, Missouri, where he was a member of the band and graduated with a degree in Business Administration.

Jim was a landowner and the owner of South Missouri Broadcasting Company (KCHR), which he founded in 1954 and operated until his retirement. Jim served with the Missouri National Guard for 16 years and was a member of the United Methodist Church of Charleston.

Jim loved trains, especially steam engines, Packard automobiles and radio broadcasting and he was an expert on each of these subjects. Jim was also known for his generosity in donating pipe organs to the United Methodist Church of Charleston and the First Baptist Church of Charleston.

Jim is survived by his cousin, Hugh Hunter Byrd, and Hugh Hunter Byrd's sons, Nelson Byrd and Hudson Byrd.

Private graveside services will be held at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Charleston. Rev. J. Robert Webster, pastor of the United Methodist Church of Charleston, will officiate.

Interment will follow under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com

Memorials may be made to: The United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 351, Charleston, MO 63834 or to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 442, Charleston, MO 63834.