Mr. Ronald Elmo Byrd, 80, a resident of the Brookside community north of Liberty, passed away peacefully while working on his farm, on Friday, October 18, 2024.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 5:00 to 8:00PM, at Thompson Baptist Church in Smithdale.  Visitation will resume at 9:00AM on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at Thompson, with Funeral services beginning at 10:00AM.  Rev. Jim Bradford and Dr. David Millican, will officiate.  Burial will follow in the Byrd Family Plot in the Nunnery Cemetery, north of Liberty.

Ronald "Ronnie" Byrd was born April 2, 1944, in Castor, Louisiana.  He was the fourth of six children born to the late William Alvin "Dutch" Byrd and Vara Robinette Byrd.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorena Frazier Byrd; his parents; his three brothers, Douglas Alvin Byrd, Leslie Thomas Byrd and Jerry Lane Byrd; his paternal grandparents, William Allen Byrd and Alice Lewis Byrd; and his maternal grandparents, Rev. Cleveland Elmo Robinette and Mary Lelia Ayres Robinette.

Mr. Byrd was married to Lorena Frazier Byrd on July 14, 1963.  They were happily married for sixty years prior to her passing last year.  He is survived by their four children: Rhonda Byrd Touchstone and husband, 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: Matthew Touchstone and wife, Katie; Christian Danielle Touchstone; Courtney Touchstone Nunnery and husband, Curtis; Marlee Renae Touchstone; Erica Lynn Touchstone and fiancé, Jackson Kirkland; 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 wife, Addy; and, Carson Frazier Byrd; eleven great-grandchildren: Bennett Touchstone; Carter and Charly Nunnery; LeighAnna, Chloe and Kinsley Byrd; Lainey Grace, Maverick, Dawson and Wrenley Stringer; and, Ruston Burr; and, two sisters, Sharon Byrd Terrell and Lelia Byrd Howard; as well as a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Mr. Byrd moved with his parents to the Brookside community as an infant.  He and his wife owned and operated Amite River Fish Industries, Inc., and Brookside Catfish Farms from their farm at Brookside for over 50 years.  In more recent years he was actively engaged in cattle farming.  Though limited by the infirmities of aging, he continued to be as active as possible.  On the day of his passing, he checked his cows and then decided to do some land clearing on his farm with his bulldozer.  He was found sitting peacefully on his bulldozer, having passed on to be with his wife, as he would have wished.

Mr. Byrd was an ordained deacon.  He has served for the past twenty years at Thompson Baptist Church, and previously at New Zion Baptist Church and Hebron Baptist Church.  He loved his God, his family and his country.  He set an example for his children and grandchildren of how to live a Godly life, with hard work and honesty.  They have peace in knowing that he is no longer suffering, and that he is now with his Lord and reunited with his loving wife.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Wayne Byrd, Caleb William Byrd, Brady Alexander Byrd, Carson Frazier Byrd, Matthew Touchstone, Curtis Nunnery, Channing Stringer, Craig Burr and Jackson Kirkland.