Michael Douglas Byrd

Published 4:06 pm Monday, October 24, 2022

Michael Douglas Byrd, of Smyrna, Ga., died Friday, October 21, 2022, at the age of 75 in Northside Hospital, Atlanta, Ga., after an extended illness.

Mike was born May 30, 1947, in the town of Appalachia (Wise County), Va., and grew up in the Oak Hill community of Hampton, Tenn. He came to know the Lord and was confirmed at Redeemer Lutheran Church in 1972 but was baptized by immersion in a Baptist church baptistry, thanks to the coordination of both church pastors and their congregations.

He was a 1965 graduate of Hampton High School and a 1967 graduate of Coyne Electronics Institute in Chicago, Ill., where he received an Electrical-Electronics Technician diploma. Afterward, he returned to Hampton, Tenn., to work for Carden Electric as an electrician.

In 1968 Mike was paralyzed at age 20 in an automobile accident but became independent and self-sufficient after receiving his physical rehabilitation at the GA Warms Springs Foundation Hospital in Warms Springs, Ga. In 1977 he received a diploma in drafting from Georgia Rehabilitation Center Vocational Training School also in Warm Springs.

His first employment after rehab was in 1977 as an electrical draftsman. He worked several years with engineering firms in the Atlanta area, advancing to electrical designer. He worked with Jordan, Jones & Goulding Engineering Firm in Atlanta until he retired in 2001.

Mike and Nina Joe Adams met at Warms Springs; they married in 1980 and were married for 42 years. He was the son of the late Blake George and Beatrice Rosa Roberts Byrd. He was preceded in death by his parents and two infant sisters, Geneva Ann and Judy Ann Byrd.

Mike’s passionate love and concern for his family fueled all that he did, and he will be greatly missed by all of his loved ones.

He is survived by his wife, Nina Joe Byrd; brothers, Robert Byrd (Judy) of Asheville, N.C., Blake Byrd Jr. and (Tim Miller) of Knoxville, Tenn.; sisters, Barbara Horton (David) of Lawton, Okla., Sally McKinney (Ronnie) of Erwin, Tenn., and Esther Halliwell (John) of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; and a sister-in-law, Nancy Adams of Clermont, Ga. He is also survived by nine nieces and nephews, Patricia Taylor, Davida Carr, Karyn Byrd, Jon Byrd, Angela Harvey, Billy Ellis, David Hite, Anna Halliwell Boyd, James Halliwell; several great-nieces and great-nephews, along with a dear foster uncle, Clifford Berry. Special friends include all of the Gladys Collins family, Bill Edde, W.C. Fell, Cheryl McAllister, Fred Ellis, and caregiver, Shalonda Briggs.

The family of Mike Byrd will receive friends Saturday, October 29, from 12 until 2 p.m. at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, followed by the funeral service at 2 p.m. with Rev. Mark Kophamer officiating. Interment after the funeral will be at Oak Hill Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery, Hampton. Mask wearing is encouraged for the safety of all. Pallbearers will be Jon Byrd, David Hite, Billy Ellis, David Sorokoff, Tyler Chandler, Tracy Harvey and Michael W. Byrd. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oak Hill Free Will Baptist Church c/o Teresa Chambers, 348 Sally Cove Creek Road, Hampton, TN 37658 or to a charity of choice. Words of love and sympathy may be sent to the Byrd family through the funeral home website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.

Tetrick Funeral Home-Riverside Chapel-Elizabethton, (423) 542-2232, is honored to serve the family of Michael Douglas Byrd.