Eudith Troy Baird

Eudith Troy Baird, a beloved grandmother, mother, and beacon of strength, passed away on March 10, 2026, at the age of 85, surrounded by her loved ones. Born on February 18, 1941, in Houston, Texas, she faced a courageous battle with various cancers and a recent struggle with severe heart failure.

Known for her resilience, feistiness, and deep love for her family, Eudith built a pioneering career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at Ochsner Foundation Hospital, where she worked for more than 30 years. She was featured in a National Geographic story, a distinction she carried with quiet pride. A dedicated cancer survivor, she met every health challenge with remarkable strength, choosing to embrace joy and live life fully despite the odds.

She took special delight in her only grandson, cherishing the milestones of watching him graduate high school and begin college—moments she once doubted she would see. Her strong, fun-natured spirit left a lasting impression on all who knew her.

Eudith is survived by her son, James Dean Baird, Jr. of Gulfport, Mississippi; her daughter-in-law, Jannezy Newby Baird of Gulfport, Mississippi; her grandson, James Dean Baird, III of Gulfport, Mississippi; and her cousins Sanna Spears of Hernando, Mississippi, Austa Rutherford Weaver of Altamonte Springs, Florida, Tim Hammers of Sardis, Mississippi, Mike Hammers of Nashville, Tennessee, Leslie Lee Crawford of Memphis, Tennessee, and Ricky Crawford of Hendersonville, Tennessee. She will be laid to rest alongside her first husband, James Dean Baird, Sr., and her daughter, Troy Allison Baird, at Bakers Chapel Cemetery in Hernando, Mississippi.