Jack Dempsey Byrd, Sr., 94, passed away peacefully Monday evening, June 20, 2016, at his home in Lumpkin, Georgia, with Lee by his side.

Jack was born on November 2, 1921, in Julia, Georgia (Stewart County), to the late John Thomas Byrd and the late Lovie Mae Baldwin Byrd. He is preceded in death by both of his parents, his loving wife, Lorene Pearce Byrd, his brothers, Jessie Theodore Byrd, Justain Baldwin Byrd, John Wesley Byrd, and his sisters, Susie Jane Byrd and Lovie Louise Byrd.

Jack graduated from High School at the age of 16, when schools only had 11 grades. At the age of 12 Jack taught himself how to play the guitar, through a correspondence course. He later taught himself how to play a little piano, bass guitar, lead guitar, mandolin, steel guitar and harmonica. He even taught Lorene how to play the bass guitar.

Jack's first job was hauling lumber with his brother John on the truck they owned. Jack met Lorene when his family went out to buy a load of corn from Lorene's father, Daniel Samuel Pearce. Years later Jack and Lorene were married in Richland at the First Baptist Church parsonage after he was back from the service. In 1964, at the Grace Baptist Church's Tent Revival in Lumpkin, both Jack and Lorene dedicated their lives to Christ. They later became members of Bland Baptist Church. The Byrd family lived for a short time in Lilluston, South Carolina. Jack and Lorene had been married for 67 years.

Jack was a World War II Veteran, serving from 1942 to 1945. His brother John joined the Army in 1941. On February 12th he was aboard the ship, Leif Erickson, headed for Scotland with 15 – 20 feet of snow on top of the ship. Jack said the ships looked like they were floating icebergs! When the ships arrived in Scotland, the soldiers had to board a train for Chichester, at the southern tip of England. They were stationed there on D-Day. Their Regiment went over on the 14th, by ship, taking less than a day for the ships to go across the English Channel. The soldiers did not know their mission until they hit the Normandy beach.

Jack served in Normandy, North France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. He earned the EAMET Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. His rank was Technician Fifth Grade. He served as a driver, a mechanic and was qualified with the M1 Carbine SS Rifle MM. Before the end of the War he was taking amphibious training, but Japan surrendered before his unit was deployed. Jack did a little boxing in the army but quickly learned he was not the best! Jack was in Magdeburg, Germany when the German's surrendered. Jack's regiment fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
After Jack returned from the War, his first job was working at the Convict Camp in Lumpkin, later he worked for Fort Brothers Chevrolet. His next job was pulp wooding. Later he decided to open his own mechanic shop in Lumpkin and a small grocery store. He loved to "tinker" on anything! Jack was retired from St. Regis Paper Company.

In 1972 Jack was playing with the Joyful Hearts Gospel Group. The group was formed in 1956 and they recorded one record. The Joyful Hearts played every week for years at a nursing home in Columbus with Dr. Glenn Fussell. Jack played with the Old Time Gospel Group traveling to Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

Survivors include his son, Jack D. Byrd, Jr., (Kay Mitchell) of Atlanta, Georgia; his daughter, Sandra (Lee) Jordan of Columbus, Georgia; three grandchildren, Jeremy, Brandon, and Shera Jordan; and one great grandchild, Alexis Jordan.

Visitation with family and friends was held on Saturday afternoon, June 25, 2016 from 1:00 to 1:45 PM, at Baldwin Funeral Home in Richland, Georgia.

A Chapel Service was held on Saturday, June 25, 2016, at 2:00 PM in the Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Union, Georgia. The Reverends' Larry Langford and Larry Ready conducted the service. Martha Jordan played the piano and sang several of Jack's favorite songs.

In lieu of flowers: Donations may be made to Columbus Hospice and mailed to Baldwin Funeral Home, P. O. Box 394, Richland, GA. 31825.

Baldwin Funeral Home was in charge of all arrangements. Visit the online guest book on the Baldwin Funeral Home web site at www.baldwinfuneralhome.com. Baldwin Funeral Home, 50 Charles Overby Dr., P. O. Box 394, Richland, GA 31825 229-887-2750