Alisa Byrd

Alisa Rochelle Byrd, affectionately known as Lisa, had an exciting start. The second of 5 children of Roselyn and and the late Russell L. Brown Sr., she was almost born in a cab on May 16, 1953 in Homestead, PA.

In 1955 the family moved to the Hill District on Francis St. and Bedford Ave. Lisa was a bonafide tomboy. Even when her mother threatened her with only wearing black dresses, she would not give up her rocks, trucks, and dirt.
In 1966 the family made their last move to Garfield. There she left behind Robert L. Vann Elementary and attended Rogers. She was very active and loved sports, even playing on the Garfieldettes girls softball team. Later she attended Peabody High School. While still in school she worked part-time at the post office. There is where she initially befriended her future husband, Glen Byrd. Introduced by her friend, his cousin, they never imagined that they would end up together.

In 1972 she graduated with a specialized business diploma and began working at Bell Telephone ( later Bell Atlantic, Verizon) where she worked for 36 years until her retirement in 2010. She quickly moved out into an apartment and bought her first car, a maroon Volare with cream interior. In early 1976 she thought of relocating to Arizona. Preferring her friends and family in Pittsburgh, she returned. In late October of 1976, after a rear end collision sent her into labor, she gave birth to her first daughter, Courtney.

That initial friendship with Glen, was then reignited. On a very hot summer day, August 14, 1982, in the Mellon Park Garden Center's Rose Garden they exchanged vows, and became one. The occasion was complete with beautiful flowers and pesky bees. Her grandmother was even stung. They danced to "Ribbon in the Sky" and that dance lasted 36 years.

On November 5, 1983, after many complications, she gave birth to her 3 lbs 10 oz baby girl, Ashley. After deciding to draw close to Jehovah, and studying the Bible seriously with Jehovah's Witnesses, she symbolized her dedication to Jehovah by water baptism on June 16, 1984 in Wheeling, WV. This gave her life a new focus. She had since then been associated with the Garfield Heights congregation. Eager to follow theocratic order up until the week she died, she wanted to make sure she was attending the appropriate congregation. She loved Jehovah and his people, going out of her way to help, just as Jesus taught. She truly loved her friends. Especially Mary Shepherd, who she viewed like a mother.

Lisa was known for her big bright smile with signature red lipstick and beautiful freckles. She loved to travel with her husband and family, visiting Aruba, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Las Vegas, Tybee Island (cover photo), several trips to Bethel and many other places. She loved to laugh, dance, dress up and spoil her dog Lizzy, sing the kingdom and original songs, and of course we can't forget, shop. Lisa was notorious for not answering her phone. Some of us even thought she was already dead, until she would miraculously text us back two or three weeks later. We also can't forget the many a Byrd family reunion line dance led by Lisa.

To cherish her memory are her faithful husband Glen Byrd, daughters Ashley and Courtney, son-in- law Richard, who she called "the son I never had", mother Roselyn Brown, sisters Tonia Steave (Edward) and Carol Hinton (Thomas), brothers Russell Jr. and Raphael Brown, brother in-law Oliver Byrd (Karla), sister-in-law Terry Byrd, 14 nieces and nephews, a host of aunts, uncles, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and hundreds of friends. She was preceded in death by her father Russell L. Brown Sr., mother-in-law Catherine Byrd, and brother-in-law Jerry Byrd. She will be deeply missed by so many.

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