Jerry Bruce Byrd passed away February 19, 2024 in McKinney, Texas at the age of 77. He was born to Clifford R. and Nellie Ellen (Tovrea) Byrd on December 2, 1946 in Dalhart, Texas.
Before graduating from McKinney High School in 1965, Jerry received the Samuel French Award and “Best Actor” in the state of Texas for the high school’s One Act play contest.
At Baylor University (BBA 1969) Jerry met and married Janice Eileen Lane on December 21, 1968 in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Following graduation, Jerry began flying in the United States Air Force. Jerry and Janice moved to Arizona where their first child, Jason Clifford Byrd, was born. During the Vietnam War and later during the Yom Kipper War, Jerry flew large transportation jets, based out of Charleston, South Carolina. While in Charleston, he was awarded “Outstanding Young Man of South Carolina” by the JayCees for his work interpreting, ministering to, and advocating for and with the deaf community. Their daughter, Rebecca Joy Byrd, was born in 1973.
Following his service in the Air Force, Jerry went to work for a new mission organization in Dallas, World Evangelism Foundation, which facilitated lay people going overseas on short-term mission trips. He was ordained as a Southern Baptist minister in 1977 by Wilshire Baptist Church of Dallas.
Jerry was an early adopter of computer technology. In 1981 in McKinney, Texas, he opened one of the earliest the first computer retail stores in the industry. He later moved into software development and consulting for municipalities.
He was a lifelong member and lay leader of First Baptist Church of McKinney. For the last forty-four years Jerry has been a very active member, serving on various committees and in numerous ministries: youth, single adults, pre-marital mentoring, drama, senior adult life group leadership, and international missions. As a lay leader, he has influenced the ministry, growth, and vision of First Baptist Church of McKinney in an unprecedented way.
For over fifty years Jerry devoted his passion and time to global missions with various mission organizations. Jerry has organized and participated in dozens of short-term mission trips to six continents and over 40 countries. In 2018, Jerry and Janice together founded Hungary Missions to facilitate the English Bible camps, which began in 2012 at the request of the Hungarian Baptist Union. Jerry’s ministry was as a volunteer—truly a vocation for the love of God and His work in the world.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Janice Byrd of McKinney, Texas; son, Jason Byrd and daughter-in-law, Stephanie Adair Byrd of Dallas; daughter, Rebecca Byrd Terry and son-in-law Daniel Terry of Charlotte, North Carolina; grandson, Bryson Byrd of Dallas; granddaughter Brianna Byrd of Dallas; granddaughter, Isabel Terry of Charlotte, North Carolina; granddaughter, Sophia Terry of Charlotte, North Carolina; and sister-in-law, Ellen Byrd of Fort Worth, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1989 and mother in 1999; his brother, Clifford Robert “Bob” Byrd in 2019.
A family graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 26, 2024 at the Dallas-Ft. Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Monday afternoon at First McKinney Church. The service will be live streamed at the following link: firstmckinney.com/live. The family will receive guests for a visitation from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sunday evening at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas.