July 30, 1929 – June 19, 2010

NATCHEZ — Services for Charles M. Laird, 82, of Natchez, who died Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at his residence, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Walton W. Jones and the Rev. Sam Tomlinson officiating.

Burial will follow at Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today and from 1 p.m. until service time Friday, both at the funeral home.

Mr. Laird was born July 30, 1929, in Brookhaven, the son of Levi Willard Laird Sr. and Edith Earl Sutton Laird. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Mr. Laird was a Mason, Shriner and a member of Royal Order of Jesters, Court 143.

Mr. Laird was founder of Laird Funeral Home and Family Security Life Insurance Company of Natchez, co-owner of River Park Hotel and Prentiss Motel. He was a member and past president of the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association, Natchez Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow and past member of United Mississippi Bank Board of Directors. He enjoyed flying as a private pilot and relaxing at his Lake St. John home with his beloved family and a number of friends.

Mr. Laird was preceded in death by his parents and one daughter, Sherie Adkins Haygood.

Survivors include his wife, Billie R. Laird; four children, Dicky Laird and wife, Diane, Gene Laird and wife, Laura, all of Natchez, Jenny Petty and husband, Benny, of Hattiesburg and Tony Adkins and wife, Kay, of Plano, Texas; 12 grandchildren, Dixon Laird and wife, Sally, Abby Laird, Brittany Laird, Peyton P. McNair and husband, Jason, Sara P. Smith and husband, Josh, James Petty, Suzanne Adkins, Hunter Adkins, Hope Haygood, Isaac Haygood, Rian Johnson and wife, Chelsea, and Regan Stephenson and husband, Jordan; 10 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Levi Willard Laird Jr. and wife, Lora, of Natchez and Bill Laird and wife, Kay, of Vidalia; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Dicky Laird, Gene Laird, Tony Adkins, Dixon Laird, James Petty and Hunter Adkins.

Honorary pallbearers will be Cappy Stahlman, James Biglane, Joe Fortunato, Noland Biglane, Phil Vasser, Steve Newman, Dee Druetta, Dennis Switzer, Bruce Kuehnle, Vidal Davis, Pat Sanguinetti, Wendell Stringer and member of the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association.

The family wishes to sincerely thank Dr. Barry F. Tillman, Dr. Randy C. Tillman; Anna Laura Orr, R.N., of Camellia Hospice; sitters, Breanna Watkins, Jennifer Jenkins, Cecelia Jones, Krishena Harris and Cynthia Green.

Memorials may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church or a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.