Chatmond Byas

A Time to be Born

Chatmond “Chat” Byas was born on July 2, 1950 in Blackville, South Carolina to Eloise Walker and Richmond Byas. He was raised in the home of his grandparents, Clarence “Buck” Walker and Louise May-Walker.

A Time to Build

He attended the Macedonia School from elementary through high school. He graduated from high school in 1968 and went on to major in Accounting and Finance at Voorhees College graduating in May 1972.

After college, Chat moved to Charleston, SC to work for a financial services company. He was a successful and accomplished accountant and worked at several companies across the state of South Carolina. He worked in the financial services field for almost 40 years until he became ill and retired in 2012.

While living in Charleston, he met Cora Lee Smalls. They were married on August 30, 1980 and had a son, Chad. When his wife ‘s job relocated to Columbia in 1983., the family moved and where he resided there until his death.

A Time to Love

He was a big lover of old school rhythm and blues music. For a few years while living in Charleston he owned a record store simply called Chat’s Records.  Sports was another pastime he truly loved! He was a huge Dallas Cowboys fan! He watched almost every football and basketball game, both college and professional that came on TV.

A Time to Say Goodbye

Chat departed this life on Monday, October 7, 2019.  He leaves a devoted wife of 39 years, Cora Byas of Columbia, SC; his son, Chad Byas and his wife Erin; grandchildren Brandon and Evelyn Byas of Charlotte, NC.; son, Eric Kirkland of Williston, SC, daughter, Arianne Charles (Timothy), grandchildren, Thomas and Noah Charles of LaPlace, LA; and daughter Keoji Collins of Brambleton, VA. He is also survived by his mother, Eloise Byas of Blackville, SC; his sisters, Beatrice Hicks of Blackville, SC, Gerald Ann Creech (Jerry), of Williston, SC and his brother Wesley Byas (Dianne) of Charlotte, NC; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Chatmond Byas, please visit our floral store.