Ava Byars Obituary

Funeral Services for Ava James Byars will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. from First Baptist Church of Philadelphia with Dr. Evan Humphries, Dr. Dan Howard and Garrett Mills officiating. Interment will follow in the Cedarlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church of Philadelphia on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, from 4:00-9:00 p.m., and again on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, from 12:00 noon until the service time at the church.

On August 1, 2011 a bright ray of joy entered the world. That ray of joy was Ava James Byars.

Ava was the first born child to Clay and Jessica Byars. She was also the first grandchild on both sides of the family which instantly put her on a pedestal. She was a blessing from the beginning.

 Ava lived every bit of the life she was given. If you asked Ava if she wanted to go somewhere the answer was yes and when will we leave? She loved visiting the house at Sunrise and of course the beach at Destin. 

She loved Mississippi State Baseball and each year would pick her favorite player. She could be found at the home games with her Papa cheering on her player and the Dawgs. 

Her music minister at church said of Ava that she had perfect pitch. She sang many times in church and never shied away from the stage. 

Ava wasn’t a picky eater…she just wanted chicken nuggets…only chicken nuggets. So you could say she was easy to please. She did love a “Crumbl” cookie. 

She was a young entrepreneur starting a cleaning service with a friend. Yes, she was a teenager who loved to clean.

Like most teenage girls, Ava loved to sparkle and shine. From her makeup to her clothes she was all girl. 

She always looked forward to the Neshoba County Fair. Last fair, she arrived at the family fair cabin earlier one night than the usual time. She sat on Papa’s lap. He asked, “Why are you back so early”? Her reply, “I'm over socialized”. She was a social butterfly. 

Of course her activities at school were a huge part of her life. She loved Leake Academy basketball and cheerleading. She was a Leake Academy Rebel through and through. 

Her teachers spoke highly of her and this was said by her former teacher, Hayley Warner. Ava Byars…she was not only my student, she was one of my son’s first and very best friends. She and William spent more hours on FaceTime than I could try to calculate. They were more like siblings than friends. From preschool church to baseball games; they were always together. She was something else! You never had to wonder what she was thinking. Ava was a born leader; never afraid to speak up. She was a wonderful student with impeccable handwriting. Ava was fun…the music loving life of the party. She was well known and loved at school by her peers and her teachers. Her dedication and hard work were evident on the basketball court and as she cheered on the Rebels. But that’s not what I will remember most about Ava. On the days we have tests in my classroom we usually finish early. I use this time to do a Bible lesson or devotion with my classes. Ava sat on the front row, and when I talked about Jesus, she was locked in. She listened intently and she nodded in agreement with the words of the Bible. She believed. I loved her and her absence will be so hard. But, we know she is with the One in whom she believed.

Ava left this world Friday, September 19, 2025.

Ava is survived by her parents, Clay and Jessica Byars; sister, Mary Clayton Byars; Grandparents, David and Roberta Byars whom Ava affectionately called Papa and Gammie; Danny Joe and Pam Thrash whom Ava affectionately called Pop and Mimi; Great Grandmother, Neda Byars or Mama Neda; Aunts and Uncle, Carly and Tyler Rounsaville; Katie Thrash and Meg Thrash. Other survivors include an abundant family of great aunts, uncles, cousins, and a multitude of friends.

Ava accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior Dec. 24, 2017. 

Jesus said that where I am, there you will be also…Ava is with Jesus.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Leake Academy Girls Basketball Guatemala Mission Trip Fund, 1 Rebel Drive, Madden, MS 39109 or to the Youth Fund set up in Ava’s memory at First Baptist Church, 414 Pecan Ave., Philadelphia, MS 39350.