Byron Browder Wilde

Byron Browder Wilde, age 56, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family at Piedmont Regional Hospital, Athens, Georgia on February 14, 2022, following a long illness.

Byron was born on March 15, 1965 in Bristol, Tennessee to Lionel Byron Wilde and Anne Browder Wilde. He then moved with his parents to Ocala, Florida where he lived for two years. His formative years were spent in Morristown, Tennessee where many friendships developed over the next seventeen years. Living at the family log cabin home, “Windswept” for two years was an especially memorable and enjoyable time for Byron. From 1982 until the present, Byron lived in several cities including Manalapan, FL, Cocoa Beach, FL, Conyers, GA, Atlanta, GA and finally, Rutledge, GA where he resided for 24 years.

Byron attended grammar school at Rose School in Morristown, TN and West High School. Later, he attended the Asheville School in Asheville, NC, Springdale Academy, Camden, SC and Brandon Hall, Atlanta, GA. He attended Walters State Community College, Morristown, TN, and Oglethorpe in Atlanta, GA for completion of two years of college.

Byron’s passion was mechanics from an early age. His father gave him three vintage trucks to work on when he was a teenager and told him to make one good one that “worked”. He accomplished that. His grandfather, Ed Browder, gave him an antique truck when he was twelve and he has kept it to this day.

Byron was a Master Technician in the automotive industry and has restored many vintage cars from the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s. He could make any car “actually run”.

Byron enjoyed traveling and visited many European countries including Ireland, Scotland, France and England. He also traveled to Alaska, Wyoming, California, Argentina, Puerto Rico and Jamaica. He was so proud that he had traveled on the Concorde twice. The Outward Bound Survival Program in Colorado was one of Byron’s greatest accomplishments, which influenced his life for many years.

Byron was a member of First United Methodist Church in Morristown, TN and later Dunwoody United Methodist Church in Dunwoody, GA.

Byron was predeceased by his father, Lionel Byron Wilde. His mother, Anne Browder Sarris, sister, Ashley Anne Wilde and his niece, Rhiannon Gaddis, survive him. His stepfather, George S. Sarris, stepbrothers, Alex Sarris and Spiro Sarris and stepsister Angie Sarris, also survive him.

His family extends their thanks and appreciation to his “Angels”, Mary Evens, Jerome and Renee Anderson and Jose Nino, who were invaluable friends during Byron’s two-year illness.

The family received friends on Sunday, February 20, at Lord and Stephens, East Chapel from 3:00 until 5:00 pm.

A visitation will be held at Berry Highland Memorial Funeral Home, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 on June 4, 2022 from 1-3pm with a graveside service to follow at 3pm at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Liver Foundation or the American Kidney Fund.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, EAST, Athens, GA, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com