'He's difficult to forget': Family, friends speak at funeral for Deputy Ned Byrd

Family members, friends and men and women in uniform gathered Friday morning at Providence Baptist Church for a funeral service honoring Byrd, who was shot and killed last week in a rural area of Battle Bridge Road near southeast Raleigh.

"When Ned fell, it dropped my family to its knees," Byrd's cousin Elina Pereira said. "Everyone who knew him buckled under the weight of losing a man so pure of heart and spirit.”

Law enforcement members and citizens, both who knew Byrd and who were strangers, gathered along Glenwood Avenue to watch and pay their respects. One family standing for the procession said Byrd once responded to their home on a call.

"We just wanted to honor him," said Will Sutthill. "He was a great guy. Nice guy. Very kind. Very compassionate. And you know he really cared."

The cassion unit, led by the State Highway Patrol with members of the Wake County Sheriff's Office as pallbearers, delivered Byrd's casket to Providence Baptist Church after 11 a.m., where hundreds of people were standing outside waiting.

Multiple family members spoke through tears at the service.

"I miss you more than words will ever be able to describe," said Byrd's cousin Brooke Weaver said. "Ned, it is time to say goodbye.”

"Ned, you were a person everybody should inspire to be," Pereira said. "You were so helpful caring, loving and kind."

Jason Culbreth, Byrd's Jujutsu coach and CrossFit trainer, said at the funeral "Ned was like our kid," commenting on his physical and emotional strength.

"He had a grit and determination like no one I have ever met," Culbreth said.

A sparring partner, Conrad Faust, said of Byrd, "He set the bar high for all of us, and I just hope we can live up to it."

Culbreth spoke Friday at the services for Byrd.

"If more of us were like Ned, the world would be a better place," Culbreth said.

In his remarks, Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker thanked all the law enforcement agencies and officers who participated over the past week in the search for Byrd's killer.

"On that night when we got to the scene, we kneeled down beside him, and I promised him that we would find those responsible," Baker said.

Through tears in the church, Byrd's end of watch call was played: "May your soul rest in eternal peace."

Following the service, law enforcement followed the hearse carrying Byrd's remains to Brown-Wynne Funeral Home at 300 Saint Mary's St.

Ryan Schmidt, a longtime friend, roommate and training partner of Byrd's, attended Thursday's visitation. He said the fallen deputy was a man who had a heart of gold and a person who was selfless.

"Some of my favorite memories are small, little moments that you get to experience or are lucky enough to see when you live with somebody day in and day out for several years," he said.

Schmidt spoke again at Friday's funeral, remembering his friend and saying, "If you spend a couple minutes with him, he's difficult to forget."

Schmidt, who first met Byrd at a CrossFit gym, also thanked first responders who serve and protect.

"Thank you and God bless the family and friends of first responders and those who serve knowing the risks and hazards," he said.

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The reality of his friend's death is taking a toll on Schmidt.

"The range of emotions to go through between sadness, shock, anger, disbelieve — [I'm] processing those," he said.

Byrd's friends and family said he was a genuine man with a kind heart. They said Byrd shared a special bond with his K-9, Sasha.

“Ned loved that he could take Sasha with him everywhere," Culbreth said. "He had a new best friend. he loved Sasha.”

Former K-9 deputy Brad Kirby echoed Culbreth's sentiments.

"It's just a gut punch," Kirby said.

Kirby said he admires how Sasha was right by Byrd's side until someone took his life as she remained in the patrol car. But, Kirby said he wonders if she'll be able to get back to work.

"They can't do anything without us, and we can't do anything without them," Kirby said. "We depend on each other too much."

Former detective Lindsay LiCausi runs Back the Blue NC, an organization that establishes fundraisers to help with funeral and estate planning for fallen officers and deputies. She said it's important for her to make her presence known for Byrd.

"I want to go and honor his life and his legacy and pay tribute to his sacrifice," she said.