Estelle Bird doesn’t feel the need to reveal her age — nevertheless on Oct. 26 she was recognized as the oldest living member of the First Baptist Church in Vicksburg and like most southern women she chooses to focus on the highlights of her life and the time spent as a member of the church instead of illuminating the number of years that have passed on the calendar. 

“Some of my fondest memories include working with 4th grade Sunday School,” said Bird, “and for many years I was very active with WMU (Women’s Missionary Union), and I also worked for a number of years with “Meals on Wheels.”

“In the time I have pastored Mrs. Bird, she has been involved with Sunday school, missions and she has helped organize the senior adult ministry,” said Dr. Matt Buckles, the current minister at First Baptist.

Jim Hess, the retired minister of music at First Baptist said not only is Bird the oldest living member of the church, but she has also been a faithful member.

“She was there all the time,” Hess said.

“We were at the church every time the door opened!,” Bird confirmed, and added, “I especially enjoyed Wednesday nights at our church — supper with dear friends followed by prayer meeting.”

Bird said she and her husband, Harvey J. Bird, were living in the Delta before moving to Vicksburg.

“We lived in Greenville the first few years of our marriage,” she said, before moving to Vicksburg in 1950.

The couple joined the church at that time, she said, before moving to Lubbock, Texas, in 1952, but in 1968 they returned to Vicksburg and once again became members of First Baptist Church.

Bird recalled all of the pastors that have served First Baptist since she has been a member, which have included Dr. Swan Haworth, Dr. John G. McCall, Dr. Gordon Sansing, Dr. Eric Thomas and Buckles.

Bird’s husband was also active in the church, she said, serving as a Deacon, Training Union Director and was a Men’s Sunday school teacher.

Bird and her husband had two daughters — Jane Bird Joseph of Clinton and Cathy Bird Mitchell of Vicksburg.

Both Buckles and Hess said that Bird has been a loving mother and wife.

“Her family blesses so many,” said Buckles, “and I consider it an honor to be her pastor and friend.”

“She is very faithful to the Lord and his church here,” he said.

Faithfulness to the church is in Bird’s genetics — the first Baptist church in Mississippi was founded near Natchez in the home of her great-great-great grandmother, Margaret Stampley, said her daughter Jane Joseph.

“There is a lovely historical tribute to the birth of Mississippi Baptists on Highway 61 near Natchez — a circle right off the highway that includes several markers which trace the beginning to the present.  In addition, there is also a historical marker right on the highway that names Margaret Stampley and the others who founded the first Baptist church in 1791,” said Joseph.

“We have taken Mother’s picture there several times,” she said.