Mertis “Helen” Byrd Decker, 85, of Tifton died Monday, April 11, 2011, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2011, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Chuck Yzenski will officiate with burial to follow in Tift Memorial Gardens. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. The family will be meeting at 208 Hall Road in Tifton.
Mrs. Decker was born on March 10, 1926 in Tift County and was the daughter of William Henry Byrd and Henrietta Anderson Byrd, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, John Lawrence Decker; four sisters; and two brothers. She was a homemaker and a member of Fourth Street Baptist Church.
Mrs. Decker is survived by four daughters and two sons-in-law, Anne Decker of Tifton, Evelyn and Ander Tucker of Tifton, Jodi and Jim Walker of Albany and Kay Decker of Tifton; one brother, Arvin “Spud” Byrd; three grandchildren and their spouses, Richard and April Tucker, Charlie and Kathy Tucker and Mendy Futch; and four great-grandchildren, Erica Tucker, Kaitlin Tucker, Josh Tucker and Emily Tucker.