Florence Elizabeth Murphy Byrd
December 2, 1919 — April 28, 2008
FLORENCE MURPHY BYRD, (affectionately known as "Mama Byrd") of Hickory Withe, TN, formerly of Joiner, AR went to be with the Lord at 4:30 P.M. Monday, April 28, 2008 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. She was 88 years of age and died following a five day illness.
Homecoming services were celebrated at 11 A.M. Friday, May 2nd at the Hickory Withe First Baptist Church with Pastor David Sulcer, her grandson and Rev. Eddie Little, pastor of the church, officiating. Interment followed in the Crittenden Memorial Park Cemetery at Marion, Arkansas. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Home - West Chapel of Oakland.
Mrs. Byrd was born December 2, 1919, in Cherry Valley, AR. Mrs. Byrd was married to J.C. Byrd until his death in 1998. She was a member of the Hickory Withe First Baptist Church and had been a resident of the Hickory Withe Community for the past ten years.
Mrs. Byrd is survived by six children, Carolyn Sulcer Cason of Hickory Withe, Judy Catt of Marion, AR, Jim Byrd (Lucy) of Prairie, MS, Artie Byrd (Janet) of Eads, Mark Byrd (Kathy) of Barettvile, TN and Randy Byrd (Karen) of Portage, MI. In addition to her children, she was the matriarch of 88 family members which extends five generations. They were the love and the joy of her life. She was the daughter of Allison and Corrine Murphy, now deceased. Her brothers and sisters include: Skeet Cook, Buddy Murphy (deceased), Johnnie Henson, Tom Murphy, Bob Murphy (deceased) and Pat Ricketts. In addition to her many friends and family, she loved her church and was active in the Community Bible Study in Somerville. Mrs. Byrd loved and was surrounded by her plants and flowers and kept her yard and garden immaculate. She spent many hours insuring it would be her own little "Garden of Eden".
Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Artie Byrd, Jr., Christopher Byrd, Connor Byrd, Trip Byrd, Lee Catt (deceased), Dick Sulcer and Rick Sulcer.
The family request that memorials be directed to the Building Fund of the Hickory Withe First Baptist Church, 17675 Hwy. 196 North, HickoryWithe, TN 38028.