Rev. Shelby W. Hill

Bro. Shelby Hill, pastor of the Hill's Chapel Free Holiness Church (known widely as "The Bend of Paint Rock" or simply, "The Bend"), passed away Saturday, having been involved in a car accident in Huntsville. Bro. Shelby was the son of the late Rev. Walter & Sis. Era Drake Hill. His wife, Sis. Mildred (McAllister) Hill was also hurt very badly in the accident. Funeral plans have been announced by New Hope Funeral Home at nhfh.net. Bro. Shelby was a friend and unchangingly stood for the Word of God, regardless of popularity or the opinion of those around him. His steadfastness was much to be admired. I remember various conversations I had with Bro. Shelby and the different times I have been in church services with him; and I am so glad to have been able to call him my friend.

This Day In History...

On November 5, 1914, my grandmother, Bertie Lorene Adams Bird, was born to John Elbert & Rosie Lee Winkles Adams. Ninety-nine years ago! Grandmother died at the age of sixty-one in 1975, before I was born; but I have heard so many wonderful things about her! Happy Birthday, Grandmother!

Exciting New Project!

I am excited to announce that The Alvie McKenzie Family is currently in production of their second album, which has yet to be named! The "theme" of this album is bascially just good old church songs that we grew up with!

Tracks include:
Mountains of Glory
I'll Go
Let's Meet By the River
When I Feel God's Great Hand
Following Jesus
When We Meet Beyond the Sky
There's a Better Day Ahead
Then I'll Have Everything
Child of the King
I'd Never Miss Heaven for the World
And More!

Some of these songs are very special to me, as I remember hearing and singing them as a child growing up at the Big Cove Free Holiness Church!

Vocal tracks have been record by Cassie, Kellie and myself; and our core band for this album includes Jesse Gray on the piano, Dustin McKenzie on the bass guitar, and Rusty Walls on the drums. Additional instruments are being recorded in the coming weeks; and we hope to have the project mixed, pressed, and ready for your listening pleasure around the first week of December!

If you have any questions about this project and would like to learn more, please feel free to contact me at shannondbyrd@gmail.com!

-BYRD

Marking History...

Yesterday was a very exciting day for me! For many years, it has been my desire to mark the graves of my great-great-grandfather, John William Bird, whose grave has been absent of a headstone since his burial in 1902, and my great-great-great-grandparents, George Marshall & Martha Clark Bird, whose graves have been marked by a simple limestone rock for more than 100 years. This mission has finally been accomplished!

Yesterday morning, I met Bros. Keith and Zack Sutton (Klassics Memorials, Scottsboro) at Campground Cemetery in Big Cove, where G.M. & Martha Bird are buried. They carefully hoisted the original limestone rock into the air and moved it to the feet of the graves. It was a surreal moment, as all I could think of was that the rock had been placed their 100 years prior to this day, and has probably not moved since. It was very heavy - I'm assuming more than 500 pounds; and the conversation came up "reckon how they got this rock here back then?" I guess they probably pulled it on skids with mules; but I can imagine that it was definately a chore. As the Suttons began placing the new headstone on the graves, more of my family began arriving at the cemetery, including my grandfather's first cousin, Lonnie Byrd, and his wife, Jean. It was Lonnie's writings about the history of the Bird Family that first got me interested in ancestry, some twenty-plus years ago. It was very special to me for Lonnie and Jean to be present at this occasion. Next, my mother arrived with my breakfast in-tow! I was REALLY glad to see her - and the bacon egg and cheese bicuit and coffee that she broght me. Then my aunt and uncle, Peggy and William Knight, arrived to watch the tombstone take shape.

After the Suttons finished had finished the tombstone set-up and left, my dad arrived; and we were off to our next location - Mount Zion Cemetery in Monrovia. Here, we honored the final resting place of John William Bird (my g-g-grandfather) with a nice tombstone. It was the first time I have ever been to this cemetery.

Today, we were supposed to have an "unveiling" and dedication ceremony at Campground Cemetery for the G.M. Bird headstone; however, we we had to cancel because of the rain. We may still get together and do this at a later date; but as of now, I am just happy to have finally completed this journey by "marking" history, and preserving some of the heritage of the Bird Family.

-BYRD

Lonnie & Shannon Byrd at the graves of G.M. & Martha Clark Bird.
Lonnie & Shannon Byrd at the grave John William Bird.

Mr. Bobby Owens

Mr. Bobby Owens passed away yesterday. Bobby, a distant cousin of mine, was the son of Mr. Arlon Owens and Sis. Thelma Bunch Owens. More information regarding his funeral arrangements can be found below. My deepest sympathy to the Owens Family.

Obit:
Bobby M. Owens Nov. 27, 1943 - Sept. 17, 2013 Bobby Marlon Owens, 69, of Union Grove passed away Tuesday at a local hospital. Bobby was a native of Huntsville and a resident of Marshall County for the past 13 years. He retired from SCI Corp. in 1996 and also was a jailer with the Madison County Sherriff's Department. Survivors include his wife: Amy Owens; one sister: Wanda Mason; one brother: Kenneth Owens and a special nephew: Randy Mason. There will be no visitation. Graveside services will be held Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Green Valley Cemetery in Big Cove with Lee Lawson officiating, Berryhill Funeral Home directing.
Published in The Huntsville Times from September 17 to September 18, 2013

Good-bye, Sis. Doris...

Sis. Doris Howell, a Godly woman of whom I have such cherished memories, finished her battle early Saturday morning, at the age of 80 years old. She was the daughter of Bro. Roy & Sis. Lucille McAllister and was the beloved wife of Bro. Robert Howell for sixty-three years. Bro. Robert and Sis. Doris has lived at the same residence on Terry Drake road for decades (exactly how long, I'm not sure - but one neighbor assured me that it was more than 40 years); and of my endearing memories of Sis. Doris, I would have to include her blue Christmas lights which were proudly on display for all the years of my childhood and up until her health no longer permitted her to drape her home and yard with the glowing strands of blue. She was a precious woman; and I know many from the Big Cove Community will mourn her loss, but none anymore than her faithful husband of more than six decades. Sis. Doris will be laid to rest today at the Green Valley Cemetery. And as one life leaves the beautiful community of Big Cove, another has taken up its abode there (or at least she will soon). My first cousin, Keith Cowan, is again a proud grandfather today as his son, Jeremy, welcomed his daughter, Autumn Rose, into the world this morning. Jeremy and Carrie plan to call their new 7+ pound bundle of joy "Rosie", in honor of Jeremy's late grandmother, my aunt Rosie Lucille Byrd Cowan. She would be SO proud!! Congratulations to the entire Cowan family for their new addition!

Happy Birthday, Paw-Paw!

Today is my Paw-Paw's 81st birthday. Luther Eural Stapler was born September 12, 1932, in New Hope, Alabama, to Raymond Hobert and Mary Lee Vann Stapler. And, he was born on HIS grandfather's birthday! Today is also the 150th birthday of my great-great-grandfather, William Silas Stapler! Silas was a member of the Big Cove Free Holiness Church and is buried in the Neal's Chapel Cemetery in Big Cove. You can check out his profile on Findagrave.com by clicking HERE.