Emma Byrd died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at Promise Specialty Hospital. She was 85.

Born in Roxie, Miss Byrd was a graduate of Fisk University and attended Tougaloo College. She worked for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation and for the NASA as an associate test engineer. She was a member of Mount Olive M.B. Church in Roxie.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Archie and Mary Jane Byrd; five brothers; and two sisters, including Nettie Byrd Durr.

Miss Byrd is survived by nieces and nephews, including Rebecca Byrd Danforth, Shirley Byrd-Norfort, Roosevelt Keys, Leroy McDaniel, Riley Keys, Michael Keys and Janice Keys; great-great nieces and nephews; and other relatives.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Mount Olive M.B. Church in Roxie, with burial to follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg. Visitation will be Monday from 1 to 6 p.m. at Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home and Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the service at the church.