Wesley Byrd, Jr.

Wesley Leonard Byrd, Jr., age 94, a resident of Brandon, MS passed away Sunday, May 23, 2021 at home surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held 10:00 am Friday, May 28, 2021 at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon, MS with a graveside service to be held at 3:30 pm Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery in Greenville, MS. Visitation will be held from 6-8 pm Thursday, May 27, 2021 at the funeral home in Brandon, MS.

A man of God went to his eternal home in May 23, 2021. Wesley Leonard Byrd, Junior, has gone home to be with his Heavenly Father. Wes, or WL, was born in Vicksburg, MS, to Wessie and Margret Byrd on December 18,1926. Wes moved to Greenville in 1939, when his father went to work for the Army Corp of Engineers. Wes joined the US Navy in September of 1944 and served in the USS Wadleigh, DD 689, until after World War II was over. He and his wife Marie Cummings lived in Greenville and raised four children. Wes worked for the Army Corp of Engineers in Greenville until 1988. They moved to Brandon, MS, in 2004. Wes was a member at Pine Lake Baptist Church. Wes was a member of “The Greatest Generation” and is a patriot to this day. He is a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and loved Him with all his heart.

Wes was preceded in death by his parents, Wessie and Margret, and wife Marie Cummings Byrd, and his wife Sally Byrd. He is survived by his Brother Willard Bill Byrd, his son Wes (Lynn), his daughters Cynthia (Richard) Vaughn, Jean (Henry) Griffith, and Julia Soutullo. He is survived by his grandchildren Wayne Vaughn (Paige), David Vaughn (Amberlyn), Lisa Strum (Farrar), Stephen Griffith, Heather (Ryan) Mathias, Joseph (Erin) Soutullo, John Soutullo, Justin Soutullo, and Hana Colvin. His great grandchildren are Rose Mathias, Layne Mathias, Azalea Mathias, Tommy Soutullo, John Michael Soutullo, Ivy Vaughn, Houston Vaughn, Madison Strum, Vaughn Strum, Alex Griffith, Wyatt Wolf Soutullo.

During his life he was a US Navy Fireman First Class, an auto mechanic, a diesel and marine diesel mechanic, a licensed Mississippi River Boat Pilot, Chief of the US Army Bank Grading Unit until retirement. Wes was a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, furniture builder and an all around wood craftsman.  But above all he was and is a servant of the Most High God and His Son Jesus.