William Eugene Birdsong

Dr. Birdsong was born Oct. 21, 1935, in Meridian, Mississippi, to Lynn and Mary Birdsong. Most of his childhood years were spent in Jackson, Mississippi. He graduated from Central High School, where he was a member of the State of Mississippi Championship track team in 1953.

Gene attended Auburn University from 1953-1956, where he studied Pre-Medicine and was an active member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He was accepted to medical school his third year at Auburn. He returned to Mississippi in 1956 to study medicine at the University of Mississippi and received his medical degree in 1960. After interning at the City of Memphis Hospital, Gene served as a Flight Surgeon in the U.S. Army and then moved, along with his family, to Iuka, Mississippi, to begin his career in Family Medicine in 1963.

In 1965, Dr. Birdsong made his final move to Jasper, where he spent the next 38 years in practice. He lovingly treated patients of all ages, from prebirth to 101 years of age. And considered it an honor to have delivered close to 8,000 babies throughout his career and cared for over 10,000 newborns.

Early in his practice, Gene realized that he needed to give back to the community that he had grown to love and that had given so much to him. His community involvement included serving as president of the Jasper Jaycees from 1967-1969, serving as a member of the Hospital Development Committee, responsible for the development of Walker Regional Medical Center, and acting as team physician for the Walker High School football team, which led to his induction into the inaugural Walker High School Sports Hall of Fame. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Jasper. He was also a member of Musgrove Country Club, where he served as president from 2006-2010.

Dr. Birdsong was an active member of the Alabama chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, having served on the board of directors from 1978-1986 and as President 1983-1984. He was also actively involved in the Walker County Medical Society, having served three terms as president. He was chief of staff of Walker Baptist Medical Center in 1981, and chief of staff of Peoples Hospital in the early 1970s.

In Dr. Birdsong’s early years of retirement, he generously gave his time to doing medical work around the globe, particularly in disaster areas or third-world countries, including Honduras, Cambodia, Liberia, Haiti, and Tsunami relief in Thailand and Sri Lanka. In all of these countries, he proudly wore his orange scrubs with an Auburn logo and floppy blue “Tiger” hat, acting as an unofficial Auburn ambassador.

Gene was a man who loved life. His passions included golf, Auburn football and basketball, and spending time with his friends and family. He loved his family, his church and his community. Although Dr. Birdsong accomplished much in his life, what gave him the greatest joy was serving and helping others. He made a difference in the lives of many and will be missed by all who knew him and loved him.

Dr. Birdsong was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Sebren Birdsong; his parents, Lynn and Mary Birdsong; and his sister, Mary Lynn Birdsong Skinner. He is survived by his children, Margery Birdsong McCollum (Jay), Christopher Lyndon Birdsong (Sara), Virginia Birdsong Culp (Sonny) Michael Von Morlock (Christy), Marcianne Von Morlock Pilling (Gary), Mary Linda Morlock; his grandchildren, William James McCollum, Samuel Lyndon McCollum (Rebecca), Christopher Greer McCollum (Kim), Mack Hamrick McCollum (Sara Beth), Sara Cobb Birdsong Neeley (Graham), Virginia Birdsong Rutledge (Vinson), Christopher Lyndon Birdsong Jr (Camille), Mary Glenn Culp McElveen (Brooks), Ridley Anderson Culp (Somers), William Clarence Culp, Mary Megan Pilling Williams (Phil), and Nicholas Steven Pilling. He is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Dr. W.E. Birdsong Fund of the Walker Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 171, Jasper, AL 35502.

A “Celebration of Life” service will be held at First Baptist Church of Jasper on March 16, 2026, at 12 p.m., with Kilgore-Green Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the church.