Fire Destroys Byron's Family Legacy

I wanted to share my story about my close and dear friend Byron Meo who has sustained total loss as a result of the Eaton fire.

My name is Saletta Hatchett, a native Californian and I’ve known Byron for over 35 years. Our families go way back and we also teamed up in business for the last 35 years.

I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of endometrial cancer in 2021. Byron has been my support every step of the way.

When I required emergency surgery at City of Hope, Byron provided temporary housing for me and my extended family on his property who flew in to assist with my care.

He has been there through chemo, clinical trials, and every surgery. He’s even gone so far as to conduct extensive research on the type of cancer I have, and ensure my treatment needs are met. And because cancer hates heat, he even had a sauna installed for my use. He has been there every step of the way. This is the just the kind of person he is. True blue and amazing!

He was a former stockbroker of 26 years before going into real estate. Before I got sick, I served as his business partner in marketing and administration. However, COVID hit, then my health challenges and now this current devastation has completely wiped him out! His home-based business was also completely destroyed in the Eaton fire.

In terms of his pedigree, his mom, Dr. Yvonne Cole Meo, was a fine artist and a teacher at Fisk University. Her work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian, the African-American Museum, and several prestigious museums and galleries throughout the world. All of her life’s work was completely destroyed and can never be replaced. His grandmother, Lorenza Jordan Cole, was the first female African American admitted to The Juilliard School of Music as a concert pianist recipient and was best friends with W.E.B. Du Bois and Benjamin Banneker. She concertized all over the world, including at Carnegie Hall, where she performed and accompanied her good friend, and world-renowned singer, Marian Anderson. Her 1928 Steinway grand piano, Limited Edition, number 28 out of 500, was completely destroyed in the fire. I am a classically trained pianist and used that piano as well, and further devastated by this. See photos below

His property was replete with 30+ chickens that produced eggs that he would give away to the farming community, a small orchard and a beautiful vegetable garden that yielded the most luscious bounty he used to cook the most delicious food; 2 dogs, Fergie, an American Boxer and Kyota, a Shiba Inu, a few goats and three beautiful black stallions. All the animals were rescued and are safe thank God. And miraculously, according to reports, it appears that some of the chickens found a way of escape also.

Although his house is gone, the mortgage is still owed. It would be even more devastating to lose the land as well. It is his desire to rebuild. Hence my reason for starting this GoFundMe Campaign on his behalf. This is the LEAST that I can do for his generosity and genuine care for others. Contributions you make would go toward maintaining his mortgage payment.

May God bless and sustain each of you impacted by this tragedy.

Thank you in advance for your prayers and support!

Sincerely,

Saletta