Authorities Probe Death of Wilkes Superintendent

The Wilkes County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of Wilkes County Schools Superintendent Mark Byrd, who was found Friday afternoon at a residence in Hays.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to a call at 3:14 p.m. on February 20 at 1025 Oak Ridge Church Road. Upon arrival, they located Mark Byrd, 52, inside a vehicle in the garage with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials said there is no evidence of foul play at this time. The investigation remains ongoing with assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

In the wake of Byrd’s death, the Wilkes County Schools announced that Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood will serve as acting superintendent until the school board selects an interim leader.

Rudy Holbrook, chairman of the Wilkes County Board of Education, confirmed Byrd’s death Friday. No official cause of death has been released.

Byrd had served as superintendent since 2016 and spent more than 26 years working in education, all within Wilkes County Schools.