Mrs. Wilma Byrd, age 94, of Sardis, passed away on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at Shepherd’s Cove.
She is survived by daughter; Karen (Johnny) Dixon, son; David Byrd, granddaughter; Elizabeth Olivieri, grandson; John Dixon, great grandchildren; Isabella Olivieri and Grayson Dixon, sister; Maurine Baswell, several nieces and nephews, and Godchild; Leslie Lowery Davis.
She is preceded in death by her husband; David, parents; Harry and Edna Turk, and brothers; Jack and Charles Turk.
After graduating from Boaz High School, she worked a variety of jobs, including a worker in the cotton mill and as a hairdresser. Soon she met the love of her life, David, and began what would become a lifetime career as a military wife. This career would lead her to live in thirteen different places, including Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
She loved bowling, reading, embroidery, and collecting beautiful things. No matter where she lived she wanted her home to be neat and tidy, this earning a nickname of SoSo She enjoyed playing cards with lifelong friends, Walt and Francine, but to Walt, she was always “Sapphire”, because she and David had lived in so many places. When they returned to Sand Mountain, they were also known as the local foreign affairs advisors.
Ms. Wilma was a beautiful, intelligent, classy, and sometimes sassy woman who lived her life as a Christian no matter where she was. She belonged to Belcher’s Chapel Methodist Church and later became a charter member of Belcher’s Gap F.C.M. Church. Now there will be no more moves, because she has reached her final base, where she will live in peace and comfort with her Savior, family, and friends.
Her funeral service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at Albertville Memorial Chapel, with burial to follow in Belcher’s Gap Cemetery. Rev. Bruce Campbell will officiate. The casket bearers will be John Dixon, Tim Turk, Terry Turk, Mark Turk, Larry Crutchfield, and Dave Lowery. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home prior to the service.
Albertville Memorial Chapel Directing
