Lonnie Byrd

Lonnie Byrd, a resident of Wilmer, Alabama, passed away Sunday, July 11, 2021. He was 82 years old. Lonnie was born June 14, 1939, in the Fellowship Community, to the late Frank and Cora Lee Byrd. He enjoyed deep sea fishing, hunting, gardening, and raising and training his horses. After his retirement, his favorite pastime was woodworking in his shop where he loved to make crosses to give to churches, people in his community, family members, and even complete strangers.

Lonnie worked from the time he was 17 until his retirement in 2009, including 49 years at Ben M. Radcliff Construction. After only a brief time at Radcliff, Lonnie became a construction superintendent and was responsible for overseeing the construction of numerous industrial complexes throughout Mobile and South Mississippi.

Lonnie loved his God, his Bible, and his country. He could be found reading from his Bible daily which stayed open on his kitchen table. Lonnie enjoyed listening to music by the Gaither Family and would often sing along. His pals at home are two dogs, Dolly and Doodle, and his cat Mac, who greeted him every morning as he drank his coffee, most of the time while sitting in his lap. Lonnie was a giver to everyone he knew. He never failed to give whatever he had to help someone in need. He spent many hours helping people restore porches, repair roofs, and even build houses.

Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Cora Lee Byrd; his first wife, Joyce Havard Byrd; his son, Scott; his brothers, Marion, Homer, Elton, Ervin, and Curtis; and his sister, Ethylene.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Marlaine Byrd; children, Lonnie Michael Byrd (Donna), Alicia Watts (Agnew), Phyllis Merchant (Bobby), Dallas Malone (Karen), and Dusti Hurst (Darren); grandchildren, Michelle Manasco (Chad), Jeremy Sullivan (Leslie), Johnathon Sullivan (Amanda), Nick Byrd (Alisha), Nathan Byrd (Vicki), B.J. Merchant (Nicole), and Tera Boudreaux (Devin); great-grandchildren, Zach, Ethan, Ben, Micah, Elaina, Bryson, Bella, Lydia, Paisley, Cannon, Cooper, and Loretta; sisters-in-law, Linda Flemming (Bill), Dina O’Brien (David), Karen Harris, and Janet Gray (Chester); brothers-in-law, Roger Wainwright and Curtis Wainwright (Leslie); numerous much-loved nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends from 11am until the 12pm funeral service Saturday, July 17, 2021, at Fellowship Baptist Church with Bro. Walt Turner and Rev. Billy Ray Robinson officiating. Special music by Cindy Toomey, Hope Griffin, and Pam White. Burial will follow in the Fellowship Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jeremy Sullivan, Johnathon Sullivan, Nick Byrd, Nathan Byrd, B.J. Merchant, and Chad Manasco. Honorary pallbearers will be John Fincher, Ben Radcliff, Jr., Donnie Smith, Darren Hurst, Stan Clayton, and J.T. Williamson. In lieu of fresh flowers, the family requests that outdoor plants be sent. Online condolences may be given at www.freemancitronelle.com.

Prior to the services, the church and fellowship hall will be thoroughly sanitized using commercial grade disinfectant. There will also be masks and hand sanitizer available for use at your discretion.

Freeman Funeral Home – Citronelle, Alabama