Willie Birdie Jr.

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 18, 2011

NATCHEZ — Services for Willie Birdie Jr., 101, of Natchez, who died Thursday, March 10, 2011, at Adams County Nursing Home, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Zion Chapel No. 2 Baptist Church in Kingston with the Rev. Walter Smith officiating.

Burial will follow at Jerusalem Baptist Church Cemetery in Kingston under the direction of Bateaste Memorial Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. Birdie was born Feb. 3, 1910, in Adams County, the son of Willie Birdie Sr. and Mary Jane McCoy Birdie. He was employed by Natchez-Adams School District as a bus driver.

Mr. Birdie accepted Christ in 1950, and served as deacon at Zion Chapel No. 2 Baptist Church and was a member of White Star Lodge No. 5. He loved God and Jesus Christ. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, meeting people and running his mouth.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Cora Birdie; and 11 siblings.

Survivors include two daughters, Rosie L. Bates and Rose Marie Green, both of Natchez; nine grandchildren, Bryant Bates and wife, Monica, of Dallas, Richard J. Butler of Riverside, Calif., Caroline Rhodes, Darnell Green, Elbert Green, Milton Green and wife, Ruthie, Inez Green and husband, Louis, and Ida Morris, all of Natchez, and Eric Green of Houston, Texas; 38 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; one devoted niece, Renza Birdie; three godchildren, Tobaise “Toby” Dunbar and Amanda Smith, both of Natchez, and Anthony Dunbar and wife, Stacy, of Charlotte, N.C.; and a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.