Mary Janice Byrd, 71, of Toney, AL and a retired Registered Nurse of 43 years in the Huntsville and North Alabama area, died at home Monday, May 30, 2022, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. We thank Kindred Hospice for helping us through this process to keep her in the home. They showed us compassion in caring for Janice in her final months. Janice was peaceful and courageous in her fight, but the disease finally overwhelmed her body.
Janice was born in Anniston, Alabama on December 1, 1950. Her parents were Barto B White and Alma Lucille Folds White of Anniston, Alabama. After graduating Anniston High School, Janice graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Jacksonville State University. She started her nursing career in 1973 at Medical Center Hospital. She worked in many areas of nursing, including ICU, CCU, labor and delivery and advanced to Director of Quality Management for Humana. She worked briefly for Decatur General Hospital and several years for Gadsden Regional Hospital. She also consulted several hospitals for ACA accreditation and finished her career at Crestwood in Pre-op / Post-op of same day surgery. She never met a stranger and probably cared for at least half of the families of Madison County over her career.
She is survived by her husband, John William Byrd; daughter, Monica Leigh Byrd; granddaughter, Isabella Marie Williams; grandson, Mason Alexander Byrd of Toney, Alabama; sisters, Beverly Ann White Bentley, Barbara Sue White Clements, and Elizabeth Louise White Smith, all of Anniston, Alabama; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m. with Prophet Craig Truesdale officiating. Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family requests memorials be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in her honor.
