Our Valued Staff
The caring people behind Cannon-Byrd Funeral Homes & Memorial Park
Meet the Team
Our Team
Carol Armstrong
Memorial Park Manager
Carol has been a familiar face in Fountain Inn since 1972 and has served families at Cannon-Byrd Memorial Park for many years. She serves as a Manager of Cannon-Byrd Memorial Park and as an Administrative Manager for the funeral homes.
Cameron Philip Bell
Funeral Director Apprentice #4344
Cameron graduated from North Mecklenburg High School and earned a B.S. in Sports Marketing from Winthrop University, where he was a member of the men’s golf team. He and his wife, Merritt, are the parents of Hayes, Pruitt, and McClain. They are members of Fountain Inn First Baptist Church and reside in Simpsonville.
Merritt Byrd Bell
Administrative Manager · FD Apprentice #4273
Merritt graduated from Southside Christian School and earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Presbyterian College. Prior to joining the family business she worked at OOBE Brand and EP+Co. She serves as a Manager of Cannon-Byrd Memorial Park and as an Administrative Manager for the funeral homes.
Ray Brown
Funeral Assistant
A native of Fountain Inn, Ray entered law enforcement in 1963 and served the surrounding communities for more than 30 years, retiring as Chief of Police in both Fountain Inn and Simpsonville. He and his wife Barbara are active members of Holly Ridge Baptist Church in Simpsonville. Ray serves as a Funeral Assistant.
W. Andrew Byrd
Owner & President · SC FD License #4081
Andy Byrd is a 1988 graduate of Erskine College and the Executive MBA Program from the Bryan School of Business and Economics at UNCG. He left the Cone Mills Corporation as a Division Manager after 11 years. He spent 13 years thereafter in the Financial Services industry, holding Series 7, 63 & 65 licenses, while a VP at Smith Barney and Managing Director & Partner of a Private Wealth Management Firm in Greenville. Over the course of 30 years and business partnership with Al Cannon, the families opened a funeral home in Simpsonville and later acquired the original, dating back to 1879, Cannon Funeral Home and Cemetery in Fountain Inn. It was through the opening and acquisitions that led to the creation of Cannon-Byrd Funeral Homes and Cannon-Byrd Memorial Park.
Andy and Tyree met at Erskine College, married in1991 and have three children, Merritt, Parker, and Anna Clair. We gained a second son in 2018 when Merritt and Cameron Bell married, and God has continued to bless our family with grandchildren, Hayes, Pruitt, and McClain Bell. The Byrds are members of Fountain Inn First Baptist Church. Andy is a Fellow of the Bon Secours St. Francis Foundation, served on the Advisory Committee to the Museum & Art Gallery of Bob Jones University, was Vice President of the E.C. Foundation, President of the Erskine College Alumni Association twice and past member of the Simpsonville Rotary Club. He served as a member of The Family Effect Board of Directors, the Erskine Board of Counselors, the United Way Board of Union County, as a board member for The Younts Center of Performing Arts, and as Director of “Homeward Bound”, a Christian based family retreat.
The Byrds reside in Foutain Inn.
Phil Clemmer
Funeral Assistant
Phil earned degrees from Wingate College and Pfeiffer University and served as a certified Police Officer and Police Chief, including as Chief of Police in Fountain Inn. He later held senior security and safety leadership roles at W.W. Grainger. He has volunteered in Fountain Inn for 40 years and currently serves on City Council. Phil joined Cannon-Byrd in 2022.
Ensley Colvin
Funeral Assistant
A Fountain Inn native, Ensley attended Hillcrest High School and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Disaster and Emergency Management. He is a full-time firefighter/EMT for South Greenville Fire Department and volunteers with Make-A-Wish SC and the South Carolina Burn Children’s Fund.
Brian Cooley
Funeral Assistant
Brian is a Simpsonville native and spent a career in law enforcement working for the US Capitol Police, Simpsonville Police Department, and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. As a government contractor, Brian served as a Law Enforcement Professional in Afghanistan advising the US Marine Corps and also was an instructor in California. Brian later served as an Operations Specialist for the Defense Forensic Science Center and was assigned to a unit in East Africa. Brian is a member of First Baptist Simpsonville and enjoys spending his free time supporting Hillcrest High School athletics.
Wilton Fowler
Funeral Assistant
Wilton grew up in Conestee and now resides in Mauldin with his wife, Joan. He surrendered to the ministry in 1971 and considers it a privilege to help families with funeral services. A U.S. Army veteran, he serves as a District Commander with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, with a heart for ministering to veterans and the bereaved.
Brian Gargis
Preneed Manager · SC FDE Preplanning #3732
A native of Florida, Brian graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in 1990 with a degree in Mortuary Science. With over 30 years of experience — from owning independent funeral homes to leading a large multi-location market — he is a licensed funeral director, embalmer, cremation specialist, and preneed expert. Brian serves as our Preneed Manager.
Madalyn Guenther
SC FD License #4661
Madalyn grew up in Greenville and graduated from Newberry College with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, where she made the Dean’s List and served as vice president of Alpha Xi Delta. She is a proud aunt and enjoys spending time with her family.
James McCann
Memorial Park Manager
James graduated Summa Cum Laude from Anderson University and earned a Master of Arts from Webster University. After a distinguished career with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office — ultimately serving as Public Information Officer — he began helping families in funeral service in 2016. He joined Cannon-Byrd in 2024, where he serves families and leads community outreach. James and his wife Ellie have one son, Elijah.
Wade Richardson
Funeral Assistant
Wade graduated from Furman High School in Sumter and attended the University of South Carolina and Columbia International University. He and his wife, Diane, have lived in the Simpsonville area since 2022 and are the proud parents of three sons who serve as senior pastors in South Carolina. They are members of Fountain Inn First Baptist Church.
Thelma A. Ballew
Funeral Assistant, Retired
A native of Greenville, Thelma moved to Simpsonville in 1954. A member of First Baptist Church Simpsonville, she previously owned several salons and retired from Century 21 as a licensed Realtor. Thelma retired as a Funeral Assistant and Receptionist.
Larry Henry Couch
Funeral Assistant, Retired
Larry and his wife, Linda, have lived in Simpsonville since 1971. Originally from Bristol, Tennessee, he graduated from Bob Jones University and is a retired Lt. Col. from the Army Reserves, where he served 28 years as Chaplain. Larry retired as a Funeral Assistant.