Virgil Ellis Bird

Virgil Ellis Bird, 67, died on Thursday, August 15, 2013 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus, MS. Born on July 25, 1946, he was the son of the late George Douglas Bird, Jr. and Mary Nell Holt Bird. He married Linda Nina Danovsky on February 12, 1977. They resided in Aberdeen, Columbus, and Crossett (AR) prior to moving to their current residence of Lawrenceville, GA where they have lived for the past 21 years.

Virgil was a member of First Baptist Church and a former member of both the Aberdeen Lion’s Club and Aberdeen Rotary Club. He spent 46+ years in various Human Resources roles, including serving as Vice President of Human Resources for Unisource Worldwide, a subsidiary of Georgia-Pacific, at the time of his retirement in 2012. Over his career, he also worked for American Potash, Kerr-McGee, and Georgia-Pacific. He served as an Aberdeen alderman (1981-1984), and his favorite part-time position was Monroe County Deputy Sheriff (1972-1976) for Sheriff Charles Clement.

Survivors include his wife of 36 years Linda D. Bird, his son Jason Douglas Bird, Doug’s wife Bethany, and grand dogs Ralphie and Riley of Lawrenceville, GA; his mother Mary Nell Holt Bird of Aberdeen, MS; his sister Charlotte Bird Williams of Tupelo, MS; his mother-in-law, Ardell Danovsky of West Point, MS; his aunt Evelyn Bird Smith of Greenwood Springs, MS; his aunt Betty Holt Keese and husband Travis of Kerrville, TX; his aunt Mary Sharp Holt of Scurry, TX; and his uncle Louis Meeks of Cedar Hill, TX.

He was preceded in death by his father George Douglas Bird, Jr. on February 28, 2011, his uncle Edward Murry Holt, and his aunts Velma Holt and Hazel Holt Meeks.

Pallbearers will be his friends Charles Clement, Russell Butler, Robert Odom, Shelby Carter, Michael Nash, Walter Lann, Kelly Tucker, and cousins Ronald Smith and Roger Smith. Honorary pallbearers include his brothers-in-law Jack Danovsky, Andy Danovsky, Jimmy Littlefield, Wayne Gittleson, John Clemmons, and Gene Brown; and nephew Brent Trulove.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2013 from 1 until 2:45 PM at the E. E. Pickle Funeral Home in Amory, MS followed by services in the chapel at 3 PM with Reverend Wade Holland officiating. A private burial will be held in the Crenshaw Cemetery at Greenwood Springs, MS.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society or the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University (winshipcancer.emory.edu or 404-778-5175). Memories and condolences can be expressed at eepicklefuneralhome.com.