VIDALIA — A Celebration of Life service for Michael Forrest Byrd, 59, of Vidalia, will be 11 a.m. Friday at Cornerstone Church in Vidalia with Bro. Danny Reed officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time at the church. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

Michael Forrest Byrd was born on Sunday, Oct. 16, 1960 in Natchez, the son of Forrest and Geraldine Byrd of Vidalia. He lived in Vidalia all of his life. He was a member of Cornerstone Church in Vidalia. Mike passed away peacefully at his home with his family by his side.

Mike was preceded in death by his mother, Geraldine Byrd, two sons, Scott and Max Byrd and his grandparents. He is survived by his wife, Julia Sandidge Byrd, of Vidalia, LA; son, Landon Byrd of Salisbury, North Carolina; father, Forrest Byrd of Vidalia; three granddaughters, Lily Byrd of Ferriday, Harper Walker of Brandon, and Presley King of Pineville; brother, Gary Byrd and wife Billie of Natchez; sister, Kay Deville and husband Jerry of Madisonville; nephews, Lance Byrd and wife Christy of Alexandria, and Alan Byrd of Lafayette; niece, Emily Byrd Burke and husband Kevin of Baton Rouge; great-nieces, Hannah Burke of Baton Rouge, and Lizzie Byrd of Alexandria;  great-nephews, Noah Byrd of Lafayette and Colin Burke of Baton Rouge; step-daughter, Marissa King and husband Preston of Pineville; step-son, Corey Walker and Brittany Cox of Brandon; sister-in-law, Melissa Sandidge Knox and husband Brian of Hensley, Arkansas; brother-in-law, Scott Sandidge and wife Colleen of Natchez; niece, Cally Reed and husband Danny of Vidalia; four nephews, Chris Harrell and wife Sherry of Sicily Island,  Lee Knox of Hensley, Arkansas, Dylan Sandidige of Natchez and Devyn Sandidge of Natchez.

Mike was a loving, funny, kind, generous, adventurous and life loving man. He had a multitude of friends, so many it would be hard to list all of them. He was a motorcycle man all the way. He had a great passion for his Harley Davidson motorcycles and motor cross bikes. He was all about taking road trips on his motorcycles and making loops around town on one of his Harleys or in his old black Ford truck. He never met a stranger and was kind to everyone. He had a love for his Father God and Jesus Christ that helped him through all the trying days he faced with his battle with terminal kidney cancer. He was diagnosed with cancer June of 2015 and then had a stroke in February 2019. Mike was a fighter and a warrior. He never let anything get him down. He stayed strong throughout his battles he faced during his life. What a mighty fine man he was! Mike is going to be missed greatly by so many friends and family. Mike kept his eye on the prize which was to go to Heaven and rejoice with our Father God and Jesus Christ! Fly high like an eagle Mike for you are the Victor!!!

Honorary Pallbearers are: In memory of Gerard Donald, Reggie Chandler, Steve Moore, Glenn Bringol, Lane Dale, Phillip Collins, Troy Lombardo, Nick Smith, Joe Caldwell, Boggie Bennett, Randy Harris, Kevin Thornhill, Eugene Cotton, Hank Rein and Cole Wadlington.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks and love to all the many family and friends for their continuous prayers, support, phone calls, messages, food and visits during past and present time. Mike loved all of you and appreciated every prayer and every thought that was sent his way.

The family would like to send out a special thanks to Encompass Compassionate Hospice for the love and support they showed for Mike and his family. Also, thank you to Dr. Jack Rodriguez and his staff in Natchez, Dr. Gerald Miletello and his staff in Baton Rouge and Key Rehab and the staff in Natchez.

Heartfelt thanks goes out to Julia’s employers, Bill Byrne and Key Smith, at Natchez Wealth Management for their support and kindness during this time.

The family request donations in lieu of flowers to Cornerstone Church in Vidalia, St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital or American Cancer Society.

To leave an online condolence for the family please visit www.youngsfh.com.