Anita Allen Byrd, 84, died Tuesday morning, Nov. 21, 2023, in a local care center.

She was a native of West Monroe, La. and was the daughter of Juanita and Lester “Sam” Allen.  She was a 1961 graduate of Louisiana Tech University in Early Childhood Education.  Upon graduation, she moved to Lake Charles and met the love of her life, John William Byrd.  They were married June 9, 1962 and were married for 46 years until his passing in 2009.  They were residents of Sulphur for over 60 years, where they raised their three sons.  Anita loved her church, loved teaching and just loved kids in general, and she devoted her life to them.  One might say she was a big kid herself.  She became the Preschool Director at her church, Maplewood First Baptist, in 1969.  It was a position she would hold for over 40 years.  She also became the Day Care Director for the church in 1985 and held that position until she retired in 2013.  Her love of children lead her to read children’s books to classes at Maplewood Elementary School, and her love of teaching lead her to teach Sunday School classes for close to 60 years.  She also enjoyed participating in book clubs and the Thursday Women’s Luncheon at the church and loved traveling to Texas, Colorado and Georgia to see her friends and family.

She is survived by her three sons, Jonathan Clay Byrd and wife, Addie, of Lake Charles, Curtis William Byrd and wife, Danna, of Sulphur, and John David Byrd and wife, Candice, of Gainesville, Ga.; 10 grandchildren, Allie, Audrianna, Bryce, Bella, Jacob, Kimberly, Matthew, Parish, Ryley and William; 13 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Maplewood First Baptist Church.  Pastor Jeremy Blocker and the Rev. Charley Watson will officiate. Burial will be at Mimosa Pines Cemetery South in Carlyss under the direction of Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Maplewood First Baptist Church Building Fund, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering or Operation Christmas Child. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.