Virginia (Powell) Byrd

Virginia Powell Byrd passed away Wednesday peacefully at her home. Mrs. Byrd was born in central Mississippi but grew up in York, Sumter County, Alabama. She graduated from Sumter County High School where she was a cheerleader. She met the love of her life in 9th grade and married him, Clarence A. Byrd 6 years later on September 4, 1955. She moved to Auburn, Alabama and worked at a bank located at Toomers Corner while Clarence finished getting his mechanical engineering degree. They moved to Irondale, Alabama in 1957 where she had her son and daughter. They moved to Meridianville, Alabama in 1961. Virginia spent many of her years as a wife, mother, and homemaker. Virginia taught a young adult ladies class for years at Antioch Baptist Church. She continued to mentor young women at Murphy Hill Baptist Church. At the time of her death she was a long time member of First Baptist Church Meridianville where she was considered a godly wife and mother role model. She was preceded in death by her father, Cleavon Powell; mother, Myrtle May Powell; brother, Grady Powell; sister, Maggie (Oland) Smith; sister, Emma Lee (Johnny) Heritage; brother, Jack (Christine) Powell; brother, Olon (Margie) Powell. Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Clarence A. Byrd; son, John (Charlotte) Byrd of Hazel Green; daughter, Sharon (Guy) Patterson of Hazel Green; grandson, Brooks Patterson; granddaughters, Cassie Patterson and Mary Grace Patterson; brother, Calvin (Sue) Powell of Marshall, TX; brother, Grover (Jeanie) Powell of Plantersville, MS; brother, David (Muriel) Powell of Cuba, AL; sister, Mildred “Milly” Ann (Frank) Johnson of Leeds, AL and numerous nieces and nephews. You may visit with the family on Sunday, October 1, 2017 from 12:00pm until 2:00pm at Valhalla Funeral Home, with funeral services at 2:00pm, conducted by Pastor Tommy Bolin in Valhalla’s Chapel. Interment will immediately follow in Valhalla Memory Gardens. Memorial Donations may be made to First Baptist Church Meridianville or the Alzheimer’s Association, Mid-South Chapter. Please sign her guest registry at www.valhallafunerals.com.