Larry Fitzgerald Byrd

Larry Byrd, of Biloxi, Mississippi, passed away on October 30th, 2025 at age 61 at home with his family surrounding him.

Larry was born on October 17, 1964, at the Keesler AFB Medical Center and was raised in Biloxi. He returned to permanently live in Biloxi after serving in the Army. He graduated from Biloxi High School in the class of 1983 before attending Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), Perkinston campus for his undergraduate studies. Larry was a key member of the MGCCC national championship football team in 1984. After college, he played semi pro football as a full back and running back for the Gulf States football team and won the championship their final year. After playing, he became a coach for the semipro football team the Gulf Coast Pirates. He went on to coach the semi pro football team the Sting Rays to win the Gulf States Football League championship. After his retirement he worked as an instructor at GTI.

Larry joined the active-duty Army from 1987-1992 and served in the Army National Guard from 1999-2018. As a battle tested warrior, he served in the Gulf War where he earned a Bronze Star along with other major honors and awards. During his military service, he led as a Combat Medic and later a Combat Medic Instructor at Camp Shelby, MS. He was extremely proud of his 13 years as a Combat Medic Instructor at Camp Shelby. After he retired, Camp Shelby created “The Larry F. Byrd Excellence and Leadership” award that is presented to the student who demonstrates excellence and leadership qualities in each class.

Larry's military education included NPS Ranger training, 1185// OPFOR, 0987// MED SPC, 0787// CLS, 0704// EMT BSC, 1004// TRAUMA AIMS, 1004// TA ITC, 0205// TC3 CRS, 0505// FLD SAN, 0805// WLC, 0109// BNCOC PH 1, 0409// NBC DEF, 0809// SUB ABU PRG and more. 

Larry enjoyed spending time with family, playing football, golfing, jet skiing, rock and fossil hunting, and teaching others how to do anything he knew well. He loved studying the Word of God and was a faithful member of Cedar Lake Church.

Larry is survived include his loving wife, Teri Byrd; his mother, Aurora Byrd; his two brothers, Richard and Philip Byrd; four children, Karah Saucier, Micah Byrd, Kaila Klein, and Heather Klein; 6 grandchildren, Marlee Saucier, Jonah Pointe, Rosalind Byrd, Gabriel Byrd, Hendrix Byrd, and Maeve Hudgens; many loving nieces and nephews; and 5 wonderful dogs, Chloe, Sarge, George, Dingo and Shadow. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles G. Byrd of Biloxi.

Services will be held at Cedar Lake Church at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 7, 2025. Friends may visit one hour prior. Interment will follow at the Biloxi National Cemetery at 12:30 pm. Food and fellowship will be held back at Cedar Lake Church at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Tunnel to Towers at www.t2t.org in Larry’s honor.

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Larry Fitzgerald Byrd.