William Byrd Rawlings Jr.

William Byrd Rawlings Jr., of Asheville, passed away August 18th, 2021, surrounded by family at his home.

Byrd was born November 4, 1939, in Richmond, Virginia. He was the first-born son of William Byrd Rawlings and Isabel Sayres Rawlings and is survived by his brother Peter Rawlings and sisters Isabel Cohen, Ann Colby and Polly Hamel.

Byrd graduated St. Christopher’s School in Richmond Virginia and was class of 1962 at Virginia Military Institute. Byrd was a wonderful husband who married the true love of his life Sandra Burton, “his blondie”. Together they shared 61 years of wedded bliss and raised four children. Byrd was a devoted husband and father and dear friend to all who knew him. He truly was a Virginia gentleman. Byrd was an avid golfer who had a remarkable seven holes in one.

Byrd is survived by his wife Sandra Rawlings, his four children Byrd Rawlings III (Jenny), Lee Johnson (Jeff), Paige Alspaugh (Dean), Scotty Rawlings (Kumi), and his thirteen grandchildren Emily, William, Sarah, Caroline and Coburn Burroughs and Margaret Rawlings, Coco, Peter and Whitney Johnson, Owen, Clay and Sayres Alspaugh, Burton and Tobi Rawlings and great granddaughter Isabelle Grace.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, August 27 at Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Asheville. His family will receive friends at the church immediately following the service. Per COVID protocols, face coverings will be required while inside the church.

In lieu of flowers, Byrd’s family requests that memorial donations be made to assist the residents of Haywood County as they recover from recent the devastation caused by flooding. Please visit HelpingHaywood.org for information about donations.

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.