Thomas Wayne Byrd

Thomas Wayne (Tom) Byrd, 84, of Sondheimer, Louisiana, passed away on Wednesday, February 13, 2019. He was born in Arcadia, Louisiana, on December 2, 1934 to Prather Guy Byrd and Thelma White Byrd. He was the loving husband of Gail Batchelor Byrd for 59 years. He graduated from Tallulah High School and earned a Degree in Geology from LSU and a Masters of Science Degree in Petroleum Geology from Mississippi State University.

Tom worked as a geologist after college and upon the death of his father he moved back to Madison Parish where he has farmed for over 50 years. He enjoyed spending time with his family, sharing his passion for the study of rocks and science. He enjoyed live music, feeding birds, and growing grapes. Tom’s greatest loves were his family and farm, and he was happiest watching the cotton grow and the sun set.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Prather and Thelma Byrd, and his daughter, Pam Byrd Sanders. He is survived by his wife, Gail Batchelor Byrd; children, Cathy Byrd Toole (Ed) of Dallas, Texas and Tom Byrd (Cindy) of Monroe, Louisiana; six grandchildren, Joshua Cogburn, Annabel Toole, Dillon Toole, Madeline Toole, Katie Byrd, and Thomas Byrd, and one sister, Beth Byrd Mitchell of Shreveport.

A visitation and service will take place at the First United Methodist Church in Tallulah, Louisiana on Sunday, February 17, 2019. Visitation will be held from 2-3 and the funeral service will begin at 3. Burial will follow the service at the Silver Cross Cemetery in Tallulah.

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