Lemesa Wainscott Byrd was born on April 29, 1930 in Stuart, Oklahoma to Pete & Annie (Cross) Wainscott. Lemesa peacefully passed into the arms of her Lord on January 15, 2022 at the age of 91.

Lemesa was raised in the area of Stuart and Allen, Oklahoma. She attended the Lizard Lope Elementary School in Hughes County. She met David O. Byrd in Allen while she was working in the Allen Café on Main Street. She married her sweetheart on March 6, 1948, in Ada, Oklahoma. They lived for a while in Kansas City, California, and Texas, before returning to make their home in Oklahoma in 1972. Lemesa was a teacher's aide while living in Hanford, California and a kitchen aide while living in Allen, Oklahoma. They were blessed with 47 years together before David passed away on December 4, 1995. She later married Dexter Clenney in October of 1997 in Fayetteville, Arkansas; he passed away on December 9, 2014.

Lemesa loved her Lord and Savior, which was evidenced with her daily Bible reading and prayer. She was a faithful member of her church, and took great pleasure in singing in the choir. She was an adoring, dedicated, loyal wife. She was a master gardener and loved her flowers. She cherished family gatherings, the 4th of July at the lake, and making homemade ice cream. She was an excellent cook, making sourdough bread, peach and apricot cobblers, rum butter pie, her famous Portuguese beans and her homemade salsa.

Lemesa is preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband David O. Byrd; son Tim Byrd and grandson Dax Byrd; her parents, Pete & Annie Wainscott; daughter-in-law Jo Byrd; brothers: Mearl Wainscott, Ferman Wainscott, Ben Wainscott, Max Wainscott, and sister Margie Kerr.

She is survived by her children: David Wayne Byrd of Gerty, Kathy Summers and husband Rick of Louisburg KS, Tom Byrd and wife Brenda, Donald Byrd and wife Janna, all of Ada, and Roger Byrd and wife Debbie of Allen; fourteen grandchildren: Billy Lynn Hefley, Kathryn Adams, Becky Blair, Hannah Watson, Richard Wayne Summers, Jamesia Byrd, Zach Byrd, Tommy Byrd, Redena Hall, AshLee Griffin, Megan Martin, Jericho Allen, and Alabama Traylor; twenty-nine great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren; siblings: Millard Wainscott of Allen, Lou Hatton of Ada, Ailene Brooks of Ardmore, and Morris Wainscott of Allen; brother-in-law Don Kerr; numerous nephews and nieces whom she loved dearly; other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, 1:30 p.m. at Bethel Free Will Baptist Church of Allen, and Lemesa was laid to rest at Allen Cemetery, with Rev. Rick Summers officiating. Pallbearers were Roger Byrd, Tommy Byrd, Richard Wayne Summers, Donald Byrd, Nathan Traylor, Josh Allen, Todd Martin, and Jared Griffin. Honorary pallbearers were David Wayne Byrd, Thomas Byrd, grandsons and grandsons-in-law, and members of Bethel Free Will Baptist Church.

Visitation for family and friends was held at the church on Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.