William Byers Greer, Jr.

William Byers Greer, Jr, 63, of Florence, South Carolina, passed away on April 4, 2023. Born in Union, South Carolina on December 9, 1959, Byers was the son of the late William Byers and Nancy Meador Greer. In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by his stepparents, Carolyn Ouzts Greer Mayhew and Richard Lewis Mayhew. After graduating from Columbia’s Dreher High School in 1978, Byers attended the University of South Carolina and Midlands Technical College. A talented self-taught artist, his love of art began when he worked as an exhibit designer at the Columbia Museum of Art. With this background he began building and designing furniture. Byers later began painting in acrylics, creating works that are best described as abstract-impressionist hybrids. He will live on through his artistic works. Byers also loved sports of all kinds, from playing baseball for the Sharpe’s Formal Wear team as a youth to playing football and soccer in high school. He loved fishing and in later years became an avid golfer, a hobby he enjoyed for many years. Byers is survived by his wife of 21 years, Kay Tennyson; their six-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Halo; two sisters, Peggy (Terry) Shealy of St. Helena Island, SC, and Lucy (David) Tevepaugh of Chapin, SC; his nephews, niece, and many cousins. Byers also had a special relationship with his maternal aunt, Lea Weed. His family was very dear to him. A Celebration of Life conducted by Rev. Thomas Smith of Central United Methodist Church and Byers’s cousin, Rev. John Culp, will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at 10:00 AM in the Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home Chapel, with visitation immediately following the service. The burial will be 2:00 PM at Elmwood Cemetery, in Columbia, SC. Kay and the family are grateful for the care Byers received from the team at McLeod Oncology and Hematology and for the compassionate caregivers of McLeod Home Hospice and McLeod Hospice House. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Candyman Homeless Outreach (founded and operated by a dear friend of both Byers and Kay), 2814 Blossom St., Columbia, SC 29205; or to Raintree Jacks (the Jack Russell Rescue from which Halo was adopted), 1881 Watkins Rd., Cassatt, SC 29032 Please sign the Guest Book for the family at www.stoudenmiredowling.com.