Mother Marie Byrd

Our beloved Mother Marie Byrd, 96, transitioned to her heavenly home on May 30, 2023, surrounded by her two daughters Alice, Jean and her niece Carla. Mother Byrd was born on October 6, 1926, to Minor and Mary Henderson Fairman in Brookhaven MS.  Mother Byrd was the eighth of nine children.  Mother Byrd’s formal education was while she was in Brookhaven MS.  On April 14, 1947, Mother Byrd married the love of her life, Linton “Son“ Byrd while still living in Brookhaven MS.

Mother Byrd as she was affectionately called, moved to Urbana, Illinois with her husband and family in 1953.  In 1958, Mr. Byrd built them their dream home from the ground up. 

When Mother Byrd moved to Urbana, she joined the Morningstar Freewill Baptist Church where she was a faithful servant for over 70 years.  Mother Byrd served on the Women’s Day White House Tea Committee, Culinary Committee, Mother’s Board and the Missionary Department.   In 2018 Mother Byrd was honored by the Champaign County Section of the National Council of Negro Women Incorporated as a Living Legend.

Mother Byrd’s hobbies were cooking, gardening and taking care of her family.  She brought her love for gardening from Mississippi and food from her garden never went to waste.  Mother Byrd loved to cook and feed everyone who came by her home, especially if it was on Sundays.  The Preachers all loved her stuffed pork chops!!  Food was always part of family activities, and she immensely enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

Mother Byrd’s favorite Scripture was Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside still water….”

Mother Byrd leaves her legacy of love to her devoted daughters Alice Marie Byrd Burton, Urbana IL, Marilyn Jean Byrd Algee (Larry), Champaign, IL and bonus daughters Bessie Wilcher, Mary Hunt and bonus son James Johnson; eight grandchildren; LeShaundra Muhammad (Timothy), LaVria Pickens (David), LeDresha Brownlee, Terry Brownlee Jr., Brittany Algee, Nicole McCurry (Frank), Katina Wilcher and Bryan Wilcher (Jelenia), twenty-seven great grandchildren, and thirty-six great-great grandchildren and a host of loving nieces, nephews and friends.

Mother Byrd was preceded in death by her father and mother Minor and Mary Fairman, Her beloved husband of 62 years, Deacon Linton Byrd, daughter Sharon “Shirley” Brownlee, granddaughter Tekyra Algee, sisters and brothers: Dolly Byrd, Ester Mae Wilcher, Gazelle Wilcher, Anthony, Jim, Luther, Marzell, and BW Fairman.  Special nieces Mae Bell Fells, Lee Edna Jones and nephew/son Minor Wilcher.

When asked how Mother Byrd was doing her response was always, “I don’t have an ache, pain or headache and God’s got this old girl”.  Mother Byrd would also tell you “To do the best you can!”  Well, Mama you did the best you could with us, now it is time for us to do the best we can!  We love you and will miss you forever.

A celebration of life will commence at noon Friday, June 9, at Morning Star Free Will Baptist Church, Urbana. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. until the start of the service. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Eulogist will be Bishop Jummie O. Holmes. Leek & Sons Funeral Home, Urbana, in charge of arrangements.

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