The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, April 16, 1996                TAG: 9604160257
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Short :   41 lines

THORNSEL BYRD JR.

Thornsel Byrd Jr., 68, of the 400 block of Lee Point Road, died April 14, 1996.

Mr. Byrd, owner and operator of M&T Byrd Lawn Service Inc., was a native of Darlington, S.C., and the son of Thornsel Sr. and Ruth Mack Byrd. He was a member of St. Paul C.M.E. Church; a member of the Board of Trustee for the Hunton YMCA; member and chaplain of the Allen University Alumni Association Zeta Omicron Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Hampton; the Whats Social and Civic Club; member and newly elected president of the Retired Leisures Mens Club. He was a retiree of the U.S. Air Force as a staff sergeant with 25 years of service. He also retired from the Virginia Employment Commission with 10 years of service. He was also a former member of the retired Armed Forces Club, Hampton.

Survivors include his wife, Myrtle R. Byrd of the home; a son, Montez K. Byrd of Charlotte, N.C.; a brother, Peter T. Thomas of Radcliff, Ky., and his wife, Brenda; brother-in-law, Robert F. Ridley and his wife, Maude, of San Diego, Calif.; two aunts, Dorothy B. White of Lamar, S.C., and Lenora Hall of Englewood, N.J. He is survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by a brother, Cecil Thomas.

The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul C.M.E., 310 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk, by the Rev. T.R. McKenney. Entombment will take place in Roosevelt Memorial Park. Viewing will be Wednesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Riddick Funeral Service. The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. Thursday. The Omega Psi Phi memorial service will be held Wednesday at 7 p.m. ILLUSTRATION: Personal Photo

KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

by CNB