One on Tupelo’s most joyful, talented and prolific theatre aficionados and an all around delightful soul, Debra Bennett Byrd departed this realm from Sanctuary Hospice House at 1:52 AM Friday morning, September 6, 2024 after a period of declining health. She was forever young at 69 years. Born in St. Charles, MO on July 23, 1955, she was the daughter of the late James Bennett “J.B.” McMickin and Norma June Beasley Boland, who survives. Debra had an adventurous, almost surreal life that was filled with love, laughter, living large and loving justice and equality. She was known for many things, among which was being the consummate wife to Craig Byrd, to whom she was married in Baldwyn on August 14, 1990, a loving mother, and a doting MawMaw or Grandma Deb to her grandchildren. Her contributions to the Tupelo Community Theatre are legendary, having acted in numerous productions over the years, being the Costume Designer Extraordinaire for many years and serving as a member of the Board of Directors. A lover of music and Broadway plays, she played roles in productions like “A Time to Kill” and “Hello Dolly” among many others. Debra’s unbelievable skill with her hands placed her in the top tier as a master seamstress. She had published in “Sew Beautiful,” an international magazine of sewing, made so many quilts over her life and never met a fabric store she didn’t like. A lover of books, she was an avid reader and conversationalist. Debra worked for over 15 years with the City of Tupelo Planning Department and over 15 years with the former Heirlooms Forever in Tupelo. She made beautiful jewelry and crafts that were highly sought after. Her vibrant personality, her magnetic lure and her all encompassing ability to get “the rhythm of life,” love everyone unconditionally and celebrate the blessings of everyday with zeal and zest will be among her lasting legacies. This great soul will be missed!
A service celebrating her life will be held at 6 PM Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024 in the Sadie M. Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Rev. Jim Yates officiating, assisted by her brother-in-law, Bro. Ralph Cain, with remarks from friends and family. Visitation will be from 3 PM – service time on Tuesday at the funeral home. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/live-streaming at 6 PM, and will be archived thereafter. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to serve the family.
She is survived by her husband, Craig Bryd of Tupelo; her mother, Norma J. Boland of Tupelo, and step-mother Martha McMickin of Florida: her sons, Paul Wise of Tupelo, Jeff Byrd (Alta) of Oxford, and Scott Byrd (Ada) of Tupelo, and daughters, Carolyn Matthews (Marten) of Emmett, Idaho, and Leigh Jordan (Jeff) of Lisbon, NY; 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and siblings Tommie Cain (Rev. Ralph) of Gore Springs, MS, Phyllis Clark (Dave) of Ocala, FL, and Toni Bradley (Barry) of the Eggville Community.
She was preceded in death by her father, J.B. McMickin.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tupelo Community Theatre, P.O. Box 1094, Tupelo, MS 38802.
