Samantha Macy Byrd

Samantha “Sammie” Macy Byrd departed from this life on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at the age of 20. 

Sammie was born to Sam and Katie on September 26, 2003 in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Sammie graduated from Vancleave High School with her best friend Jay and one year behind the love of her life, Gavin. While in high school, she was the captain of her Color Guard team and continued her graceful leadership after high school assisting the George County Color Guard team. In addition, Sammie was an avid softball player. Her teammates were all very near and dear to her heart. She attended the University of South Alabama with her friend and roommate, Michelle.  Sammie was in her second year of pre-med studies and aspired to become a pediatrician.  Sammie found dear friends and students she adored at Landry’s where she had the joy of working for the past year. In her limited but treasured free time, she chose to accompany Gavin for movies, eat cookie cakes with Jay, spend time with friends Nick and Patricia, read, and chase Sammie and Gavin’s rambunctious cat, Rudy.  Her accomplishments and interests go far beyond description, and she had a love for life that was infectious to all she touched.  She emanated joy and cared deeply for all of those whose presence she graced.  Most of all to the “home team” which include her father, Sam; older brother, Anthony; and younger sister, Natalie with whom she resided in Vancleave, MS at her time of passing. 

She is preceded in death by her beloved grandmother, Florence Brown Green; and her adored cat, Chase Matthews Byrd.

With heavy hearts Sammie leaves behind her father, Samuel Joseph Byrd; her mother, Kathryn Macy Shepherd; brother, David Anthony Byrd; sister, Natalie Lynn Byrd.  She also leaves on earth her love, Gavin Lee Fairley Villarrubia; dear friends, Jalyn Nicole Farris, Michelle Nichole Vaughn, Dominick Chance Phillips, and Patricia Lynn Morgan; grandmother, Valarie Kay Byrd; and grandfathers, Jeffery Crosswhite and Anthony Marcus Henry.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00pm at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, Vancleave, MS. Friends may visit from 11:00am until service time. Burial will follow at Shiloh Cemetery, Vancleave, MS.

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Vancleave is honored to serve the family of Samantha Byrd.