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Willis 'Terry' Bird Marianna, FL QCWA # 18100 |
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HEADLAND...Willis Terry Bird, a resident of Headland, died Sunday night, November 27, 2011, in a Dothan hospital. He was 75.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, November 30, 2011, in the Worship Center of the First Baptist Church of Headland with Dr. Cecil M. Sanders, Jr. and Reverend Norman C. Simmons officiating. Burial will follow in Gardens of Memory, between Headland and Dothan. Holman-Headland Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Wednesday in the worship center.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the City of Headland Animal Rescue Mission, (C.H.A.R.M.), P.O. Box 216, Headland, AL 36345.
Terry Bird's family was living in Chipley, FL, at time of his birth; he was raised in various locations in Florida. He was a graduate of Chapman High School in Apalachicola, FL, and attended Florida State University and the University of Florida prior to enlisting in the U. S. Air Force. Mr. Bird served his country in Libya, Turkey and Crete as an Intercept Radio Operator. After serving his country in the military, he graduated from Chipola Jr. College and also Auburn University where he received a B.A. Degree in Psychology.
Mr. Bird was retired from the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee as a Vocational Evaluator. In earlier years, he worked as a Psychometrist at the Boys School in Marianna and as Claims Representative for the Social Security Administration in Columbus, GA, Tallahassee and Marianna, FL. Mr. Bird was a member of the First Baptist Church of Headland. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Terry Bird and Eleanor Conner Bird.
Mr. Bird wrote a novel: The Alaska Incident and thirty-eight articles for an online photo magazine, ApogeePhoto.com, for young people. He also had his photos published in a number of publications such as Florida Wildlife, Florida Game & Fish, Angus Journal, Horse Illustrated, Wheeling Sportsmen, Southern Discoveries and others. Mr. Bird belonged to the Photographic Society of America and had his photos accepted in exhibitions on six continents and in many states and countries. He won a number of international medals and awards for his photography. This is something both he and his wife Wanda enjoyed together. Mr. Bird loved to play table tennis, tennis and bass fish with his father. He also loved to take sudden and short trips with his wife anywhere..anytime.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Wanda Hodges Bird, Headland; a daughter, Bonnie Bird Simmons and husband, Donald, Troy, AL; four grandchildren, Dalton, Kiegan, Kendall, and Kinsley Simmons; two sisters-in-law, Judy Hodges Armstrong (John Robert), Headland; and Glenda Hodges Morris (Jack), Dothan; a brother-in-law, William Earl Hodges (Bettie), Savannah, GA; his special friends, Leonard Montgomery (Janette), Panama City, FL; James McQueen (Ellen), Eufaula, AL; and Marilyn Duggar Van Lierop (Carlton), Blountstown, FL; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Donald Simmons, Dalton Simmons, Kiegan Simmons, Geoffrey Stephens, William Earl Hodges and Thomas Spann.
Holman-Headland Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. 334-693-3371.