Byron de La Beckwith - Early Life

Early Life

De La Beckwith was born in Colusa, California, the son of Susan Southworth Yerger and Byron De La Beckwith, Sr., the town postmaster. His father died of pneumonia when he was five years old. One year later, De La Beckwith and his mother settled in Greenwood, Mississippi to be near family. His mother died of lung cancer when he was 12 years old, and was raised by his uncle William Greene Yerger and his wife thereafter.