J. FRANK BYRD

JOSEPH FRANKLIN BYRD, a resident of the Galloway Community and Employee of General Heating and Cooling Incorporated in Bartlett, died at 10:25 A.M. Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis where he had been a patient for two weeks. He was 68 years of age and died following a brief illness.

Funeral services for Mr. Byrd were conducted at 3 P.M. Tuesday, November 11th at Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with the Rev. Ronald Grunewald, Pastor of the Gallaway First Baptist Church, officiating. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-West Chapel of Oakland.

Mr. Byrd was born May 12, 1940 in the Gainesville Community near Mason, the son of the late Johnny E. Byrd and the late Ruth Savannah Stafford Byrd. He was educated in the Tipton County Public School System and was a lifelong resident of Fayette, Shelby and Tipton Counties.

He had been a resident of Galloway for 24 years and was of the Christian Faith. He had been employed in Air Conditioning Duct Manufacturing and Installation for 23 years and received much enjoyment from his pet dog, "B. J.".

He will be remembered as a caring person who enjoyed helping young people and assisting others in their time of need.

Survivors of Mr. Byrd include his daughter, Virginia Louise Byrd of Galloway, TN; three sisters: Betty Nails and Maxine Lynn, both of Memphis and Jean Parks of Covington; and three brothers: Marion Byrd of Munford and Marvin Byrd and David Byrd, both of Memphis.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Richard Drumwright, Michael Lewis, Jerry Pilkington, Jason Presley, Thomas Jackson and Zackary Hill.

The family request that Memorials be directed to the Gallaway First Baptist Church, 377 Main Street, Gallaway, TN 38036, Phone: (901) 867-3507.