Nora Lee Byron has spent considerably more time in other people’s homes than her own much of her life and helped raise many more children than she birthed.
Byron, 85, is now a semi-retired caregiver, only helping a couple of families much less frequently than during her nearly 40 years ‘on the job.’ She now spends much more of her time in her own home on North Street in Gray.
Byron was born Nora Smith ‘up the road’ in a house on Eatonton Highway. She was raised on Dixie Street in Gray and attended school only through the eighth grade.
“I didn’t do too much school,” she acknowledged last week. “I’ve been working since I was 13 years old. I cleaned houses and kept children.”
Byron, herself the mother of three daughters and three sons — one deceased — estimated she has kept children for least 11 families in the past 45 years.
Early on, however, she did other work.
“I worked at Gray Motel for about two years. And, I worked for Cherokee (Products) for about three months.”
She pointed out she also kept one adult years ago early in her career.
“I stayed with Hazel Roberts for five months and two weeks,” Byron recalled. “She broke her leg at Shoney’s.”
One of the first families with which Byron worked was schoolteacher Lani Schewe and his wife.
“I cared for their daughter until she started school,” she recalled. “And Mr. Schewe made the down payment on this house for me.”
Of the numerous families Byron helped, she has spent the most time in Phil and Marianne Bivins’ home.
“I’ve been with Phil (now deceased) and Marianne for about 38 years,” Byron said. “Too long not to get retirement; too late, Phil said.” She helped care for their two children, Phillip and Deanne.
“They were nice, real good. We had some run-ins, but I won,” she smiled.
That relationship has continued so long that Byron also cared for Deanne’s son, Jax.
“I kept him from when he was six months old until he was seven,” she said. “I still go down to her house some, but I don’t do much there now.”
Marianne Bivins went a bit further in describing their relationship.
“Jax will be 8 in December, and Nora still helps Deanne and me when she’s able. She will stay with Jax for a short time when his parents are busy.She’s part of the family.”
Bivins added that Phillip and his wife, Tarin, have a son on the way, and she anticipates needing Byron’s involvement.
“I fully expect Nora to help me whenever I have him in Gray,” she declared.“At our age, it will take both of us plus some, but neither one of us wants to slow down very much.”
Bivins pointed out that her late husband understood and appreciated the relationship between the Bivins family and Nora Lee Byron.
“One of the last things Phil told me was to take care of Nora, and he told Nora to take care of me,” she recalled.“She is my faithful prayer partner and friend, and we often talk about how blessed we are to do all we do. She has definitely been a blessing to me.”
Cheryl Thomas’ three daughters — twins Loray and Lorraine and younger sister Leigh — all had Byron’s help raising children. Her granddaughter, Megan Sawyer, daughter of Alan and Loray Childs, remembers Byron vividly and appreciates her influence.
“Nora Lee is undoubtedly one of the most important people in my life,” Sawyer commented. “So much so, that she was escorted into our wedding as a part of our wedding party.
“I blame her for my love of southern food,” Sawyer chuckled, adding, “She is an excellent cook.
“From newborns to the elderly, she goes above and beyond to care for those that she loves,” Sawyer continued. “She is dedicated, devoted and loyal — and funny; she’ll keep you laughing! She affectionately calls me ‘Maggie,’ and I am so grateful to consider her a part of our family.”
Byron remembers the wedding as well.
“It was down in Florida, a big wedding. I really didn’t know if I was in it. He (Alan) called my name, told everybody that I raised his daughter and I did a good job.”
Sawyer’s father echoed her sentiments.
“What stands out about her to me is her devotion and true love for the people that she works for,” Childs commented. “She will always be a special part of our family. Her generosity and faith has always amazed me.”
Byron emphasized that she got along with all her families and had a close relationship with them. She stressed that she would do whatever it took to take care of whomever was her responsibility. She actually took one lady to one of her daughter’s wedding.
“I couldn’t leave her. She was mine that night to take care of.”
On another occasion, Byron and teens in her care took a detour one evening.
“One night when they were bringing me home, they said, ‘Nora, you go deer hunting with us. Let’s see if there’s any deer out there for us.’ I said, ‘I don’t care, I will.’ And, we did.” No deer were shot that night, she clarified.
Byron pointed out that she usually was not caring for children — or adults — at one house at a time. At one point, on some occasions she would go to three different residences.
“I would go to Marianne’s (Bivins) in the morning, and then I’d go to Jack and Marcia’s (Lloyd), and some days I ended up at the Moores’ at about five o’clock in the evening.”
Occasionally, when the Moores were out of town, she would stay overnight to care for their two children, Michael and Terry Moody, and Margaret Moore, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
On other days, Byron’s destinations would include the homes of Bivins, Childs, and Steve and Lorraine Taylor, parents of Dalton, while on other occasions, Chase and Cole Robinson, sons of Leigh and Johnny Robinson, would be included.
No matter where Byron was going, it would be someone other than her providing the transportation. She has never had a driver’s license.
“That did not stop me. Nothing stopped me,” she stressed. “I always have put my trust in God. And I know He was always going to take me through. I might want to go to Gray now. I might not can go now. But by the end of the day, I will get there.”
While Byron has watched and helped raise many youngsters, she seldom has babysat her own grandchildren.
“I didn’t keep my grandchildren because I wanted their mamas to learn that they had to learn how to survive. And I had to work, too.”
Byron explained that they needed to learn how to take care of their children. And, ‘I’m here for you.’” She believes her way was the right way. “They were good mothers, to be sure,” she said of her daughters, Debra, Teresa Rena, and Lillie.
Byron’s life is pretty simple these days.
“I clean my house, go to church, visit the sick, things like that,” she said, pointing to the house next door. “I help her.”
The long-time caregiver reflected on her past volunteer service and an episode from about 40 years ago.
“I used to go visit the sick at the Medical Center. I did it for about two months because I had to catch a ride. Sometimes it would be two or three times a week.”
Byron recalled a particular incident.
“Some of them said there was a white lady there, and she said that she had to go home and pick up some cans to be able to pay somebody to bring her back to see her husband. And I told her that she wouldn’t have to go pick up any cans. I would give her $25. And, I gave her $25.”
Byron said the lesson she has learned in life is simple.
“Treat people right. Regardless, treat people right and go on. I tell you,” she added, “God’s been good to me. He’s been real good to me. I took care of all my children. I worked for them.
“I have had some hard times,” Byron acknowledged. “Sometimes I have been mistreated, but I still go on. I didn’t let it bother me. I still go on.”
