Phyllis Westmoreland Bird

Phyllis Westmoreland Bird, 87, of Spartanburg, SC, passed away on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at Mary Black Hospital after a brief illness. Phyllis was born November 16, 1937, in Gainesville, GA, to parents Phillip Westmoreland and Eva Elrod Westmoreland. 

Phyllis married Edgar Brown Bird in June 1954 and enjoyed a wonderful life living in several locations in South Carolina and Georgia, relocating with Ed’s career with Milliken. Phyllis is survived by her three children Bruce J. Bird of Kennesaw, Georgia and his wife Kerstin Bird, Gary M. Bird and his life partner, Carole McFee of Greensboro, NC and Spartanburg, SC, and Nancy B. Brown of Gainesville, GA. Phyllis and Ed also had 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. 

While living in Spartanburg, Phyllis became involved in the National Garden Club and served on the board of the Spartanburg Garden Club Council as President. She also enjoyed being a South Carolina National Accredited Flower Show Judge and a Gardening Consultant.  Phyllis’s hobbies included being a master gardener, playing golf, tennis, bridge, and being a member of the Sparkle City Red Hat Club. 

After being a Baptist for over 70 years, Phyllis and her husband joined St. James United Methodist Church and truly found their church home. They were active as long as they could be and enjoyed watching the church grow. Phyllis had been a member of the Upper Room Sunday School class and the Wesleyan Circle. 

Phyllis’s special friends for over 60 years were Spence and Sara Nell Wise and Gerald and Cheryl Jones. Phyllis’s family is forever thankful for the help of her wonderful caregivers Betty Siwecki, Daisy Tate, and Barbara Rice. 

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM Thursday, December 7, 2023, at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29307, conducted by The Rev. Andrew Wolfe. Visitation will follow at the graveside.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James United Methodist Church, 213 North Lanford Road, Spartanburg, SC 29301.

Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel