Johnnie Lee Byrd Sr.

JOHNNIE LEE BYRD, SENIOR was born March 10, 1936, in Greenwood, Mississippi to the late Ernest and Annie Lee Collins-Byrd. He was the third oldest of thirteen children. He attended Green-wood Elementary School until the family relocated to Hollandale, MS, where he attended the Watson Academy. Johnnie was a member Shady Grove Christian Church where he was baptized at an early age under the leadership of the late Rev. Aaron Johnson. Johnnie, a hardworking man spent many days working several jobs as a construction worker and truck driver. The majority of his career was spent working for Allison Transmissions from October 1965 until his retirement in November of 2006. JOHNNIE fully embraced life and is known for being the life of the party. He loved sports, family gatherings, playing cards, and good blues music. BB King and Johnnie Taylor were among his favorite blues musicians. He was an avid Colts and Pacers fan. In 1979, Johnnie was crowned Mr. Brown Sugar at the Brown Sugar Club for his gener-ous charitable contributions. He was a member of the Casual Few Social Club, the UAW Local 933, and the Naptown Riders - an elite motorcycle club. Johnnie joined the Zion Hill Baptist Church under the leadership of Elder David Lee. JOHNNIE was a loving brother, father, grand-father, uncle, and friend to many. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Annie Lee Byrd, six brothers: Ernest Jr., James, Levi, Wardell, Samu-el, and Jerry; one sister, Beulah; a grandson and granddaughter. Johnnie Lee Byrd departed this life. JOHNNIE'S life will forever be remembered by all who loved and knew him. He is survived by two sisters Annie Castlel and Carolyn Gee; four brothers, Asie (Rose), Willie of Indianapolis, IN, and Shelby (Susie) of Elizabethtown, KY, and Lavester Rattliff of Mississippi; six daughters, Minnie Butler, Onetha Byrd, Vanessa Dell, Cynthia Byrd of New York; Rhon-da Byrd-Jones, and Chantel Byrd of Indianapolis, IN; three sons, Johnnie Jr. and Frederick Tyrone (Michelle) Jones of Indianapolis, IN and Kenny Byrd of New York; eighteen grandchildren, thirty-four great-grandchildren, fourteen great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends.