BLYTHEWOOD: Vera Almena Byrd Riley of Blythewood, died late in the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012 of complications related to Alzheimer’s Disease. She was born Jan. 6, 1929 to Lula Mae Munn Byrd and William Roscoe Byrd. Vera and her husband of 64 years, the Rev. Clyde Lever Riley, were in the Baptist ministry together for 44 years.
Vera is survived by her husband, the Rev. Clyde L. Riley, her daughters Pamela Riley Cates and Sandra Lawson, her son-in-law Chuck Lawson, her sisters Doris Boyd and Syble Romanstine, her brother-in-law the Rev. Stanley Romanstine, her grandchildren, Jeff Romig and his wife Kacy Romig, Gina Cates Rieger and her husband Joshua Rieger, Bryan Romig and his wife Beth Romig and Abby Riley Cates as well as her two great-grandchildren Jackson Hall Rieger and Riley Cates Rieger. Vera is predeceased by her parents and her sons-in-law Steven Romig and Wally Cates and her brother-in-law Richard Boyd.
She was an educator, Guidance Counselor and resident chaplain at the S.C. State Hospital. She was a volunteer in the Chaplain’s Office at Palmetto Richland Hospital from 1996 until 2005.
She was also a published writer of poetry, short stories, essays, and health-related articles. Her book “Entwined” was published for caregivers and caregiving and was available at Palmetto Health Richland Hospital for use by patients and their families, staff volunteers and visitors.
She was a musician and served in churches, along with her husband, in that capacity. She was on the Board of Directors and an officer in the South Carolina Writers Workshop.
She will be missed by all those whose lives she touched. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the Riley family requests that memorials in honor of Vera be sent to North Trenholm Baptist Church Youth Ministry Scholarships. A memorial service was held Sunday, Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. at North Trenholm Baptist Church. The family received friends after the memorial service at the church.
