Obituary of John Mixson Byrd

Mr. John Mixson Byrd, age 82, of Ozark, died Wednesday evening, October 26, 2011. Funeral services will be 11:00 A. M. Saturday, October 29, 2011, from Ridgecrest Baptist Church with Reverend Jim Hill and Reverend Harry Circle officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at Ridgecrest Baptist Church Friday from 5:00 P. M. until 7:00 P. M. Mr. Byrd was born March 27, 1929 in Ozark to the late John Winston Byrd and Jessie Mixson Byrd. He served in the Army National Guard 131st Tank Battalion full time from 1948 as Administrative Assistant to the Commander, Warrant Officer Junior Grade. In 1950 his unit was activated where he served at Ft. Knox during the Korean Conflict. Mr. Byrd was the owner of Central Auto Parts, Byrd Sundries, and Community Repair, and was a partner in Universal Fuels in Daleville, serving as Secretary Treasurer. Mr. Byrd was the Captain of the Ozark Volunteer Fire Department in the 1950's and 1960's. He was a member of Claybank Masonic Lodge 908 for over fifty years. He was a charter member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Ozark, was ordained as a Deacon August 27, 1961, and served as Deacon Emeritus since February 28, 2010. Mr. Byrd served as the chairman of the Ridgecrest building construction dream team, past Chairman of the Trustees, Training Union Director, and many other positions. He was an avid Auburn fan and member of the Dale County Auburn Club. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Susan Paige Byrd. Survivors include his wife, Geraldine Snellgrove Byrd of Ozark; one son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Sherry Byrd of Ozark; two grandchildren, Dustin and Jennifer Byrd of Dothan and Natalie and Blake Lane of Madison, Alabama; two great grandchildren, John Martin Byrd and Rosemary Byrd of Dothan; one sister and brother-in-law, Jean and James Daughtry of Columbia, Alabama. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Ridgecrest Baptist Church Building Fund, 1971 Deese Road, Ozark, Alabama 36360. Service Information