Elizabeth Otts Bird, age 89, of Forkland, died May 1, 2015, at her residence. Services were at 2 p.m. Monday, May 4, 2015, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Demopolis with the Revs. J. D. Barnes and David Powell officiating. Burial followd in Riverside Cemetery with Kirk Funeral Homes Demopolis Chapel directing.

Survivors include her husband, James “Jim” Whitfield Bird of Forkland; daughters, Grace Bird Sneed (Brandon) of Tuscaloosa and Avery MacEachin Bird of Gulf Shores; sons, James Whitfield “Dusty” Bird, Jr. (Judy) of Hoover and Archie Mafus Bird (Paula) of Forkland; brother, Lee Otts (Mary Frances) of Brewton; grandchildren, Whit Bird, III (Jennifer) of Homewood, Nathan Bird (Rita) of Vestavia, Alison Bird (Jason) of San Francisco, Christian Sneed, Russ Sneed and Lisa Sneed, all of Tuscaloosa, James Schaible (Susan) of Gadsden, and Reece Schaible of Gulf Shores; and great-grandchildren, J.W. Bird, Davis Bird, Jack Bird, and Ellie Bird.

Elizabeth Otts Bird was born May 19, 1925 in Greensboro, Alabama, to the late Archibald Bruce MacEachin and Elizabeth McMillan Otts.

Mrs. Bird graduated from Greensboro High School as her class’s valedictorian while also working in the afternoons at The Greensboro Watchman. Her love for journalism grew deep; taking her to the University of Alabama and receiving a degree in journalism.

She was a member of Chi Omega Sorority and a editor of Rama Jammer Magazine. She was the first female police reporter for The Birmingham News. She was a feature writer for The Tuscaloosa News and she ended her journalism career at The Demopolis Times.

She loved the town of Demopolis and the community of Forkland; where her and her husband of 64 years, Jim called home.

She served the Demopolis community by dedicating 20 years of her personal life to being publicity chairwoman for Christmas On The River. Mr. and Mrs. Bird spent 64 years together enjoying life and every adventure that came their way.

Pallbearers were her five grandsons. Honorary pallbearers were members of the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Forkland, BWWMH Home Health, and Ms. Beatrice McGee and all of her fabulous and loyal helpers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alabama Heritage Magazine, Trinity Episcopal Church, THA Foundation or the charity of one’s choice.