Mrs. Georgie Lorena Frazier Byrd, 80, a resident of the Brookside community north of Liberty, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Friday, May 12, 2023, after a lengthy illness.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 16, 2023, from 5:00 to 8:00PM, at Thompson Baptist Church in Smithdale. Visitation will resume at Thompson on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 9:00AM, and continue until the Funeral service there at 10:00AM. Rev. Jim Bradford, Dr. David Millican and Rev. Rob Westbrook, will officiate. Burial will follow in the Byrd Family Plot in the Nunnery Cemetery, north of Liberty.

Lorena Frazier Byrd was born February 19, 1943, in Gillsburg, Mississippi. She was the oldest child and only daughter of the late Wiley Dewitt Frazier and Margaret Carruth Frazier. She was preceded in death by her parents; one of her brothers, Marshall Larry Frazier; her paternal grandparents, Dewitt Frazier and Lorena Bates Frazier; and, her maternal grandparents, Marshall Carruth and Georgie Yarborough Carruth.

Mrs. Byrd has been married to Ronald E. Byrd for almost 60 years. She is survived by her husband, and four children: Rhonda Byrd Touchstone and husband, Steven Eric Touchstone, of Liberty; Ronald Wayne Byrd and wife, Anna Foster Byrd, of Summit; Robert Wiley Byrd of McComb; and, Russell William Byrd and wife, Libby Prestridge Byrd, of Osyka; eleven grand children; Steven Matthew Touchstone and wife Katie; Christian Danielle Touchstone; Courtney Touchstone Nunnery and husband Curtis; Marlee Renae Touchstone; Erica Lynn Touchstone; Ryan Wayne Byrd and wife, Nikki; Kayla Byrd Stringer and husband Channing; Kristen Byrd Burr and husband Craig; Caleb William Byrd and wife Ashlyn; Brady Alexander Byrd and Carson Frazier Byrd; also, eight great-grandchildren: Bennett Touchstone; Carter and Charly Nunnery; LeighAnna and Chloe Byrd; and, Lainey Grace, Maverick and Dawson Stringer; and, two brothers, Wiley Craig Frazier and wife Carol, and William Kenneth Frazier and wife Linda; as well as a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Mrs. Byrd and her husband owned and operated Amite River Fish Industries, Inc., and Brookside Catfish Farms in Smithdale for over 50 years. She enjoyed her work, but she dearly loved her Lord, her family and a multitude of friends. Affectionately known to many as "Miss Rena", she was active in each of the churches she attended throughout her long life, leading music worship services for over 30 years. The past two decades she has been a member of Thompson Baptist Church, where she served in various capacities. She loved everyone, but her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. Throughout her life she set a Godly example for her family and all of those around her. She attended as many of her family's respective sporting and school activities as possible, all of their birthdays and church events, and hosted every holiday for her immediate and extended family. She was renowned for her cooking and the love she demonstrated to each person with whom she came into contact. She will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her, but especially by her family. However, they have peace in knowing that she is no longer suffering, that she is now with her Lord, and that they will be with her once more in their own time.

Pallbearers will be her Grandsons, Ryan Byrd, Caleb Byrd, Brady Byrd, Carson Byrd, Matthew Touchstone, Curtis Nunnery, Channing Stringer and Craig Burr.

The family would like to say a special thank you to Alice Spencer, her companion and caregiver of the last four years and to Cory Morris and Shannon Landen of Hospice Compassus for the love and care shown to our mom.

In lieu of flowers, make memorial donations to St. Jude's.