Louella Byrd

The Viewing will be from 8:00am - 10:00am on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at Garden Oaks Funeral Home & Crematory, 13430 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at Forest Park Southwest Cemetery, 9040 FM 359 Road, Richmond, TX.

Louella Richardson Byrd was born in Pensacola, Florida to King David Richardson and Mandy Jackson Richardson on February 14, 1930. She grew up in Pensacola and they had a simple life. When Louella was a little girl her mother passed away at the age of 37 giving birth. She had 6 siblings. When her mom passed Louella relied solely on her daddy. She was very close to him, he was her hero. She spoke of her daddy every single day of her life up to the day of her passing. When her father passed away Louella was in Germany with her husband and unable to travel because she had a baby. It broke her heart not to be with her daddy.

Louella married at the young age of 20 to Robert O. D. Byrd Jr. whom she referred to as Bubbah. She gave birth to three children (Robert O. D. Byrd III., Donna A. Byrd and Karen Byrd). Being a military wife she traveled the world with her family. In 1964, Louella returned to the United States from England with her 3 kids to start a new life after she and Bubbah parted ways. She never remarried and her broken heart never completely healed. She enrolled in Pepperdine College and earned an Associate Degree with a focus on English and her vocabulary was impeccable. There wasn’t a word that she did not know or could not spell. She landed a job as an Elementary School Teachers Aide where she used her English and motherly skills to teach and encourage the students. The students loved her. She worked hard to provide for her three children and she did an excellent job. She dressed her children in the finest clothes and made sure they had everything they needed. Many nights she would cry herself to sleep because of loneliness and a broken heart but the next day she would do what she knew was necessary for her family. Louella was a strong and fearless woman, a protective mother who never gave up. She was an excellent cook and everyone looked forward to her holiday meals. She was dressed to the nines whenever she left the house. She was a fashionista and loved nice things. Her house was always immaculate as she prided herself on cleanliness. You could eat off her floor.

She lived the majority of her life in Los Angeles California, the land that she loved the most. She moved back and forth to Texas multiple times to live with Donna and Karen but her heart was for California. She finally gave in and made Texas her final resting place 2 years before her passing but even then she was still a bit reluctant.

EVERYONE who met Louella knew one thing about her and that is SHE LOVED THE LORD. Her famous quote “I Belong to Jesus”.

Louella Byrd is survived by her youngest Daughter Karen Byrd Shumate, Son-In-Law McKinley Shumate, the grandchildren Brandie Byrd, Brittany Shumate, Shana Hayes, Armand Hayes, Great Grandchildren Brandie Byrd, Jr., Braylin Byrd, Xavier Byrd, Tyson Kellough, Lydell Kellough.

Louella’s eldest son Robert and daughter Donna passed away in 2019.

Louella survived her siblings Perry J. Richardson, Janie Mae Richardson McKee, Howard Lee Richardson, Lawyer Richardson, King David Richardson Jr., Lois Marie Richardson Leverett Craig.

Louella means “Famous Warrior” and she was famous among those that had known and loved her. She was a strong warrior who fought for what she believed to be right, fought for her faith in Jesus and fought against what she felt was wrong. She loved people and had a giving unselfish spirit. If she only had a dollar in her purse and you needed something she would give it all to you. She gave away everything. She never met a stranger.

She loved watching Christian Television, playing Bingo and spending time with her family.

You will be missed. Rest in peace in the arms of King Jesus, to whom you belong.