Uncrowned Community Builders

Pauline Winifred Huff was born December 23, 1908, to Rev. General Grant Huff and Junior Wilson Huff, in New Market, Tennessee. Pauline received her early education in Greenville, South Carolina. In 1932 she earned a B.A. degree from Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina. She pursued graduate studies at Buffalo State College during the early 1960s. This foundation prepared her for 19 years of employment as an elementary education teacher for the Buffalo Board of Education at Public Schools 6, 38, and 48. While a student at Livingstone, she was a charter member of the local undergraduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Pauline's journey as the quiet, calm, loyal mate to a preacher of the Gospel began at St. James A.M.E. Zion Church in Ithaca, New York in 1933. Pauline and her husband, the Reverend Derrick M. Byrd, Sr., moved to Buffalo a few years later. This ministry led to experiences at St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church of Buffalo in 1936 and charter membership at People's Church, founded by Rev. Byrd in 1938. During her work at People's, which spanned 50 years, she served as pianist, organist, director of the Senior and Junior choirs and the Minister of Music. In addition, Pauline taught piano and voice lessons to many Buffalo area residents, while she studied organ under the tutelage of Muriel Davidson, and was presented in recital at St. Paul's Cathedral in Buffalo.

Mrs. Byrd's other church and community affiliations included membership in the Missionary Society and the Community Church Club of People's Church; delegate to the organizing conference of the National Council of Community Churches at Lake Forest, Illinois in 1950; Church Women United (World Day of Prayer); Wider Horizons Reading Program; Leukemia Society volunteer; Meals on Wheels; Buffalo Urban League and American Association for Retired Persons (AARP).

Rev. and Mrs. Byrd were the proud parents of two sons, Derrick, Jr. and Cameron, Sr.; grandchildren, Cameron, Jr., Brian, Jeannine, Pamela, Kahlil, Derria; and one great-grandchild, Andre. Mrs. Byrd died on December 18, 1989, a few days before her eighty-first birthday.