The Right Reverend Vernon Randolph Byrd has died at age 77.

Bishop Byrd, who was well known for his ability to make peace during times of adversity, was the 105th elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Called to minister at age 12, he moved through the hierarchy of the church, serving congregations across the United States.

He moved to Bermuda and St. Paul AME Church in the 1960s. Said the Hamilton church's current pastor, Reverend Dr. Conway Simmons: "Bishop Byrd was a very spiritual man which made him very acceptable to the St. Paul's congregation. He had a unique talent of having the ability to bridge the gap between seniors and youths he knew how to reach both generations."

Reverend Charles Smith of Heard Chapel said: "On February 2, 1964, during the BELCO riots, at a gathering of workers at the Devonshire Recreation Club, [Bishop Byrd's] speech about reconciliation helped to bring calm to a volatile situation.

"He was also able to help reconcile the business interests and the workers' movement by proposing solutions that resolved the conflict."

His efforts were recognised with a Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour and a Young Man of the Year Award from the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce. He was made a bishop at the 1984 General Conference of the AME Church, meeting in Kansas City, Missouri.

The rise in rank allowed him to supervise AME churches in West Africa, the Caribbean, South America and parts of the United States. "Bishop Byrd ran a popular radio programme twice a week which was well loved by people outside and inside the AME church," Rev. Simmons added. "His wife Theora was also a great asset to his ministry."

He recalled the bishop's ability to preach a very insightful sermon in compact time: "If he was given 20 to 25 minutes to preach he was able to do it very well. There were many saved under his ministry. His slogan was, 'unless souls are saved, nothing is saved'."

In 1968 Bishop Byrd left Bermuda to continue his ministry at the St. James AME Church in Newark, New Jersey.

He retired in 2004 and returned to his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. He remained a frequent visitor to the Island, where he was always held in high regard. Bishop Byrd died last Tuesday. He will be buried today, at the Greater Bethel AME Church in Charlotte.

Condolences were sent to Bishop Byrd's wife Theora as well as their four children and grandchildren by AME presiding elder the Reverend Malcolm L. Eve and ministers and members of the Bermuda Annual Conference. Condolences were also sent by former Bermuda Industrial Union leader Ottiwell Simmons on behalf of the workers of Bermuda.

Mrs. Byrd said: "On behalf of my family I would like to thank the good people of Bermuda for their prayers for our family during this time of bereavement."