Elizabeth Bird

Elizabeth Otts Bird, age 89, of Forkland, died May 1, 2015, at her residence. Services will be 2 p.m. Monday, May 4, 2015, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Demopolis with Revs. J. D. Barnes and David Powell officiating. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery with Kirk Funeral Homes Demopolis Chapel directing. Survivors include her husband, James “Jim” Whitfield Bird of Forkland; daughters, Grace Bird Sneed (Brandon) of Tuscaloosa and Avery MacEachin Bird of Gulf Shores; sons, James Whitfield “Dusty” Bird, Jr. (Judy) of Hoover and Archie Mafus Bird (Paula) of Forkland; brother, Lee Otts (Mary Frances) of Brewton; grandchildren, Whit Bird, III (Jennifer) of Homewood, Nathan Bird (Rita) of Vestavia, Alison Bird (Jason) of San Francisco, Christian Sneed, Russ Sneed and Lisa Sneed, all of Tuscaloosa, James Schaible (Susan) of Gadsden, and Reece Schaible of Gulf Shores; and great-grandchildren, J.W. Bird, Davis Bird, Jack Bird, and Ellie Bird. Elizabeth Otts Bird was born May 19, 1925 in Greensboro, Alabama to the late Archie Bald Bruce MacEachin and Elizabeth McMillan Otts. Mrs. Bird graduated from Greensboro High School as her class’ valedictorian while also working in the afternoons at the Greensboro Watchman. Her love for journalism grew deep; taking her to the University of Alabama and receiving a degree in journalism. She was the first female police reporter for the Birmingham News. She ended her journalism career as a feature writer for The Tuscaloosa News. She loved the town of Demopolis and the community of Forkland; where her and her husband of 64 years, Jim called home. She served the Demopolis community by dedicating 20 years of her personal life to being publicity chairwoman for Christmas On The River. Mr. and Mrs. Bird spent 64 years together enjoying life and every adventure that came their way. Pallbearers will be her five grandsons. Honorary pallbearers are members of the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Forkland, BWWMH Home Health, and Ms. Beatrice McGee and all of her fabulous and loyal helpers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alabama Heritage, Trinity Episcopal Church, THA Foundation, P.O. Box 812, Demopolis, AL 36732 or the charity of one’s choice.  A reception will follow the service at Riverview, the family home.

All obituaries taken from the website of the corresponding funeral home unless otherwise noted.