Arvin Franklin “Spud” Byrd, 84, of Tifton passed away Wednesday, May 22, 2019, at the Rehabilitation Center of South Georgia in Tifton. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2019, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. James Spires officiating. Mr. Byrd will be laid to rest at Salem Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Saturday, May 25, 2019, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Jimmy Dees, Randall Tillery, Albert Hill, Greg House, Jim Whittington and Darrell Haman will serve as pallbearers.
Born March 5, 1935 in Ty Ty, Mr. Byrd was the son of the late James William Henry Byrd and Henrietta Anderson Byrd. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, William Henry Byrd and Marvin Byrd; and five sisters, Beulah Salter, Lithia Spires, Hazel Fowler, Pauline Head and Helen Decker.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Mr. Byrd enjoyed fishing and spent many weekends catching speckled perch on Lake Eufaula or trout in the Gulf of Mexico. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Ruby Jewell Young Byrd. They had been married 60 years at the time of her death in 2015. Spud and Ruby enjoyed annual fall trips to Maggie Valley, North Carolina to see the changing color of the leaves in the mountains. He served in the Army National Guard, where he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. Mr. Byrd was retired from Patrick Tractor Company with 49 years of service.
Mr. Byrd is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Robert Giddens of Tifton; one grandson and his wife, Zane and Cynthia Giddens of Tifton; and several nieces and nephews.