Stephen Byrd

BYRD, Minister Stephen "Mr. Byrd" - Age 72, passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at Hurley Medical Center. Family hour 10AM Thursday, March 20, 2008 at Ebenezer Ministries, 2130 S. Center Rd.,with funeral service commencing at 11AM, Min. Kevin Galloway, officiating, Pastor Urundi Knox, Host Pastor. Interment Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Rd., Holly, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10AM Thursday. Min. Byrd will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12Noon-8PM Wednesday. Minister Stephen Byrd "Mr. Byrd" Monica's "Byrd of Paradise" was born October 10, 1935 in Detroit, MI, the son of Elbert and Ruth Byrd, and the 5th of 6 children. Stephen attended Russell Street Missionary Baptist Church as a child. He first served in the United States Air Force, later retiring after 22 years as an E7 Sergeant First Class in 1975 from the U.S. Army. During his duty, he served in Korea, Germany, Japan, Vietnam, and many other assignments within the U.S. He served as a Medical Technician, worked for the Surgeon General at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and was a member of the real M.A.S.H. (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) team in Camp Mosier Korea. Stephen was ordained as a Minister at Timothy Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit in 1997 where he was the Assistant Pastor. He was self-taught and self-employed, and owned Byrd and Son Construction Company, where he trained many young people in his trade. "Mr. Byrd" was married to Monica Durrett Byrd Septemeber 22, 2001, who was a committed wife and partner in his ministries. He was the caregiver for his 98-year-old mother and his wife who are physically challenged, and completed building a handicapped accessible bed and bath rooms. He was active in golf, bowling, roller and ice skating, tennis, karate, swimming, skiing, pinochle, checkers, dominoes, and nearly any board or card game he could get his hands on. Stephen was truly "On fire for the Lord" and proved so throught his service in many ministries such as the Street, Jail and Children's Ministries. He had a great love for "the kids", and was blessed with the wonderful gift of exhortation (encouragement). He served in the Wayne County Jails and he was an Assistant Chaplain of the Genesee County Jail with the "Forgotten Man Ministry" and the president of Ebenezer Ministries Harvest Seekers Street Ministry, where many souls were saved through corner cookouts and door-to-door home visits. Stephen was also affiliated with a Mission in Haiti, where he sponsored many children financially. His love for people radiated as he continually lifted them up and helped them in any way possible. Stephen's testimony of being 15 years old in the 5th grade truly reveals how God used him in spite of his circumstances through his achievements and many great accomplishments. "Mr. Byrd" leaves to cherish his memory: wife and confidant, Monica; his "beloved" 98-year-old mother, Ruth Byrd; 7 children, Randolph and Michelle Byrd both of Texas, Alicia (Shawn) Dobbins of Florida, Harold McDermott of Georgia, and Taharqa Willie (Litiesha), Diarra, and Nawara Blue, all of Michigan; 6 grandchildren, Jere' Byrd, Taylor Dobbins, Shelbie Prater, Harold and Chase McDermott, and Khalil Nasir Blue; brothers, Elbert (Audrey) Byrd, Jr., Theodore (Lillie) Byrd and Richard Byrd; sisters, Minister Florence Moffett and Margie Taylor; uncle, Norman Bledsoe; aunts, Pauline Scott and Mamie Underwood; father-in-law, William Durrett; brothers-in-law, Dennis (Jean), Lawrence (Janet), Robert (Jana) and Donald (Shirley) Durrett; sisters-in-law, Eva White and Florence (Gary) Nichols; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins, including special friends, William Slade and close cousins, William Byrd, James Sepher, and Mindell Penn, Godson, Zakai Alexander. The family would like to express special thanks to Pastor Knox and Ebenezer Ministries Church family, Deacon Theodore Payne, Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Jana Durrett, Jean Durrett, Eva White ("Our Rams in the bush") Nicky Alexander, Ebenezer's Street Ministry, Samieka Williams, Nurse Tina Smith, Genesys Davita Dialysis Team, Home and Hospice, and Dr. Pandrangi and staff. Mr. Byrd was preceded in death by his father, Elbert Byrd; son, Stephen Byrd, Jr.; brother, Johnny Byrd; niece, Belinda Williams Byrd; and mother-in-law, Anna Durrett.

Stephen Byrd

October 10, 1935 - March 12, 2008