Tavi Mae Byrd

Tavi Mae Byrd began her journey to crossover on June 6, 2022 at the age of 57 after a courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in Amarillo, Texas. She was born to David Edwards and Esther Cruz on December 15, 1964 in Espanola, New Mexico.

Tavi was deeply influenced by what she experienced as a child living on the reservation. That is where her drive for activism started and she was introduced to painting. As a child, she loved to draw and her father found a Native artist who took her under his wing. After high school she went to college for two years on an art scholarship but ultimately decided to marry and raise her three beautiful children, where she devoted her time and energy to motherhood. Their Byrdflock lived all over the world. After traveling overseas, she decided to go back to college to become a high school math teacher.

Tavi began her teaching career in Amarillo, Texas at Palo Duro High School. She taught there for 10 years before moving to Dallas-Fort Worth. She taught another 8 years split between Cedar Hill High School and O.D. Wyatt High School. While in Dallas, after a 24-year break from setting her paintbrushes down, she picked them back up to start painting and loving every new creation. In November 2019 she was diagnosed with ALS. She ultimately had to retire from teaching and stop painting.

Tavi was an artist, educator, and activist at heart. She was kind and nurturing to all. She opened her heart and home to many. Her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of those she interacted with and she will be sorely missed.

In Tavi’s words, “Enjoy life because it is truly precious. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Forgive quickly. I love you.”

Tavi is survived by her three little Byrd's, her son, Tyrell Byrd and two daughters, Tasheena Byrd and Jalisa Byrd; her grandchildren, Aaliyah Byrd, Markess Byrd, Trae Byrd, Eyniah Byrd, and Kya Byrd; her granddog, Noire Byrd; her lifetime friend Charles Byrd; her brothers Russell Edwards and Mark Edwards; and sister Anita Dean; and friends, students, and all who met her. She is preceded in death by her parents.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 18, 2022 at 2:00pm. It will be at Palo Duro High School Auditorium, 1400 N. Grant Street Amarillo, Texas 79107. Since she will be returning to Mother Earth, the family asks that you wear earth tones or her favorite colors turquoise/blue.