Elgina Byrd, 38, autism fundraiser

A MAJOR focus of Elgina Byrd's life was the fight against autism, the devastating developmental disease that strikes children.

She joined in fundraising activities to fight the disorder, such as the annual Autism Walk. But for Elgina, the problem was also very personal. Her son, Shawn Gauthney Jr., is autistic.

Shawn, now 12, got the full impact of Elgina's care and love. She took him to the many activities for autistic children offered by the Variety Club. She took him skating, bowling and on trips to Wildwood. With Variety Club, there was camping and visits to aquariums and zoos, many events to stimulate Shawn's mind and help him to lead as normal a life as possible.

But Elgina suffered a stroke and died July 4 at age 38. She lived in Southwest Philadelphia.

She worked for AlliedBarton Security Services, providing security for the Shire Pharmaceuticals facility in Wayne.

"She was very hardworking," said her daughter, Deraj Pugh. "She was very devoted as a mother. She was highly intelligent and was always willing to sacrifice herself for others. But she was also very funny, with a bubbly personality."

Elgina was born in Philadelphia to Regina Miller and Elton Byrd. She graduated from Martin Luther King High School and started at the security service in 2005.

In recent years, she participated in the annual fundraising walk for autism sponsored by Autism Speaks. Participants gather in September at Citizens Bank Park, where thousands of family members of autistic children and supporters meet to walk and socialize. They are focused on the cause of autism, described as the fastest-growing serious developmental disorder in the U.S. The event not only raises funds for autism research, it also helps to call attention to the disease.

Sponsors say that every 11 minutes another family receives the devastating news that a child has an autism-related disorder.

Besides her son and daughter, Elgina is survived by a brother, Tayhid Sims.

Services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 50th Street and Woodland Avenue. Friends may call at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Fernwood Cemetery.