Ottilia Davis Laird (Tillie) passed from this life on April 25th, 2020 at the age of 93. She was born to Frank and Lillie Davis on April 4, 1927 in Walton County, Florida. She was a child of the depression and knew hard times during her childhood. She used to joke that her’s was the poorest family in poorest county in Florida, but her parents always found a way to put food the table for them and their extended family. These formative years produced a strong independent woman. She will be remembered for her humble spirit that made her an ideal preacher’s wife. She was always a cheerleader for her husband, children, and grandchildren. She believed in them even when they stopped believing in themselves.
She met her husband of 54 years, Byron C. Laird, in Walton County, Florida. He was the son of a farmer who had experienced the same type of poverty she had known. This handsome young man had served as a Merchant Marine in World War II. He caught Tillie’s eye. She was determined that he was going to saddle up next to her in spite of others who had made their intentions known. After getting married, they attended Montgomery Bible College (now Faulkner University.) Byron would become well-known as a minister in the churches of Christ, which happened largely because of Tillie’s faith and encouragement. Byron owed much of his success as an evangelist to Tillie, a woman who loved to lead from the shadows.
