Martin Edmond Byrd
(September 5, 1950 - August 6, 2021)

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at the First Baptist Church of Sanford for Martin Edmond Byrd, 70 of Seminary, who passed away on Friday, August 6, 2021 at the South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel.

Reverend Brian Dickens will officiate at the services with interment to follow in the Bullock Cemetery in Seminary. Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Collins will be in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, August 9, 2021 at the First Baptist Church of Sanford.

Pallbearers will be Stacy Byrd, Tommy Byrd, Anthony Byrd, Don Byrd, Wayne Byrd, Timmy Lofton, Stevie Thornton, and Roy Phillips. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Butler, Griss Sanford, Jack Moss, Frank Craft, and John Woods.

Martin Edmond Byrd entered into this life on September 5, 1950. Even though he was born with physical limitations, his spirit had none. He was an impish, fun-loving, and competitive. He was always up for a game with us kids whenever we came to his house. We played football, baseball, volleyball, king of the mountain and many others, but his favorite was probably basketball. No one could beat him at basketball. Of course, the reason might be that he had gotten the ball and had taken off funning, but you wouldn't beat him! He loved his family and friends, and he never met a stranger.

When his brother Griss began racing cars, watching stock car racing became a passion. He began studying all types of engines and soon could tell anyone all about them, including which were "the best" according to him. This led to one of his favorite and ongoing debates: Ford or Chevy? He was a Chevrolet man through and through, and he would definitely let you know that!

Video games came next, playing those each day when he went to Mick's Cafe to eat. Martin could be found eating and playing those games there for many years. He could also enjoy another of his favorite debates with café patrons. Which team was going to win the Super Bowl was always a particularly fun and intense discussion? He might pull for one team this year and pull for another one next year, but there was one team he never rooted against. That was the Seminary Bulldogs. He rarely missed a game.

Martin departed this life on August 6th, 2021, just shy of his 71st birthday coming up next month. There was no one like him. He brought many smiles and lots of laughter to our world. And even though we will miss him forevermore, our lives have been so much happier and blessed by knowing him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edmond and Mavis Mooney Byrd; three brothers, Grissett Byrd, Jessie Byrd, and John Everett Byrd; and three sisters, Hazel Lee Byrd Craft, Iona Byrd Moss, and an infant girl Byrd.

Survivors include his niece and caretaker, Judy Sanford of Moselle; one brother, Palmer Byrd of Seminary; three sisters, Shirley Byrd Beasley,, Willene Byrd Sanford, and Retha Mae Byrd Phillips; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family members.

Family and friends may sign an online guestbook at www.billymkingcolonialchapel.com