Rev. Byrd, who this month resigned as chaplain and as pastor of Oakland Avenue United Methodist Church, Sharon, was hired by Christian Associates in 1995 to serve as chaplain for UPMC Horizon, Farrell. In January 1998 she was appointed chaplain at Sharon Regional Health System, serving both hospitals until April of that year, when the Rev. Geri Williams, pastor at Ruth A.M.E. Zion Church, Sharon, assumed the chaplaincy at UPMC Horizon, Farrell.

Rev. Byrd recently was appointed pastor of Greenstone United Methodist Church, Bell- vue, Pa.

As chaplain, she worked with the hospice program of the hospital, served on hospital committees and visited with staff and patients, helping to care for their spiritual needs.

Christian Associates has been in charge of the chaplaincy program at Sharon Regional since its inception, and at UPMC Horizon, Farrell, from its beginning until this year, when the hospital developed its own chaplaincy.

Originally the chaplaincy at both the Sharon hospital and the Farrell hospital were financed through Christian Associates; the program at Sharon Regional is now fully funded by the hospital but maintained by Christian Associates, which expects to fill the chaplaincy vacancy by next month.