Funeral services for Gilbert Lynn Laird, ofBrookhaven, are 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, at Riverwood FamilyFuneral Service Chapel with burial in Pleasant Grove Baptist ChurchCemetery.

    Visitation is Friday from 5 until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

    Mr. Laird, 53, died July 6, 2011, at King’s Daughters MedicalCenter in Brookhaven. He was born in Mississippi on July 18, 1957,to Jack Laird and Nellie Oliver Laird.

    He was a retired logger and log truck driver. He was a member ofPleasant Grove Baptist Church. He and his wife, Kathy, were alsofoster parents to over 60 children.

    Mr. Laird was a friend to everyone. If anyone needed something, dayor night, he was there. He loved people and most of all, he lovedhis family.

    He enjoyed life and always had a smile for everyone. If you werehaving a “down” day, and you happened to meet Gilbert along theway, he would say something that would make you laugh and forgetyour troubles.

    He will truly be missed by all.

    Preceding him in death were his parents.

    Survivors are his wife, Kathy King Laird; his sons, Jeffrey Lairdand wife, Ashley, Jerry Laird, and Ben Laird and Stephanie Asbury,all of Brookhaven; his grandchildren, Adrianna Laird, SavannaRutland, Riley Laird, Olivia Laird, Isabelle Laird and Emma GraceLaird, all of Brookhaven; his sister, Jane and Raymond Bricker, ofMorton; his nieces, Wendy Lindsey and husband, Brad, and AdrienneClark and husband, Keith, all of Morton, Melanie Himmel andhusband, Kyle, of Brandon, and Hailey King, of Santa Rosa, Calif.;his nephew, Hunter King, of Santa Rosa; his great-nieces, Claireand Anna Lindsey and Kambriegh Himmel; and his great-nephews, AidenLindsey and Holton Clark.

    Memorials or gifts may be made to the Diabetes Foundation ofMississippi in honor of his great-niece, Anna Lindsey.

    To express your thoughts to the family, you may visitwww.riverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave acomment.