Curtis Briggs “Chip” Byrum

Grafton – Curtis Briggs “Chip” Byrum, 88 of Grafton, Va., went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, February 11, 2022 following a lingering illness. She was born in 1933 in Hobbsville, North Carolina to Curtis and Margaret (Riddick) Briggs. Named “Virginia” at birth, her father passed when she was only 3 months old and her name was changed to “Curtis” leading to a lifetime of confusion by those she had yet to meet. She is preceded in death by her parents, older brother James Herbert Briggs (and wife Lee), her husband Mark Byrum, her special friend Toy Markham, and her granddaughter Elizabeth Byrum. She is survived by her sons (and spouses) Mark Byrum Jr (Lesa) and Randy Byrum (Vickie), and grandchildren Amanda Byrum, Brandon Byrum (Jenna Green), Brent Byrum, and Adrienne Byrum. Her great grandchildren missing their great grandma are Faith Fox, Juliette Moore, Tristan Klunder, and Kaylyn Byrum. She is also survived and greatly missed by her “special sisters” (first cousins actually) Hope “Frankie” (Joseph) Proctor, JoAnne Dail, Wendy Hendrix, Isabel “Shunie” Krider, sister-in-law Peggy Byrum, and too many other relations and friends to list (you all know who you are).
Chip” graduated with the Class of 1950, Hobbsville High School and played girls’ basketball. After completing a business course, she worked for the “Highway Department” (now VDOT) in Suffolk. In 1953 she married Mark and became a Navy wife, then a farmer’s wife, and then a Coast Guard wife moving around the country with Mark and their two sons until Mark’s 1972 Coast Guard retirement. Wherever they lived, “Chip” exemplified the Proverbs 31 woman providing for her family, working outside the home (part-time church secretary, school bus driver, sales), participating actively with her church, and guiding her boys to serve the Lord. Mark passed about 15 years after his military retirement and several years later “Chip” met widower Toy Markham and enjoyed a 20 year “special friend” relationship with him until his passing in 2014.
“Chip” had a difficult childhood with her Dad and then Mom and then grandparents with whom she lived passing when she was still a child. This and being a military wife called upon to lead her family during her husband’s military duty absences contributed to her bold personality and strongly held opinions and beliefs. You knew where you stood with “Chip.” Her friends knew they were friends and she would do anything she could to help them.
Later in life “Chip” enjoying spoiling her grandchildren and great grandchildren and enriched her life with traveling with her special friend Toy. She was very active in her church, Seaford Baptist Church and especially her Sunday School Class and Woman’s Circle Group. Special thanks go to the group of caregivers and health care providers organized by her friend Jan Conley who tended to her needs 24/7 over the final few months of life allowing her to remain in her home surrounded by familiar people and things.
Visitation is scheduled for 6-8 pm on Thursday, February 17 at Seaford Baptist Church, Seaford. The celebration of her life is scheduled for 11 am on Friday, February 18 at Seaford Baptist Church followed by interment at 3 pm at Beaver Hill Cemetery, Edenton, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Seaford Baptist Church can be considered. Arrangements by Amory Funeral Home, Grafton, Va.