Harris Byrd Mapoles Sr

Harris Byrd Mapoles, Sr., 89, of Milton, Florida passed away on Thursday, July 25, 2024.
"From Flying Upside Down To Flying
For The LORD In The Pulpit"
Byrd Mapoles performed the "inverted ribbon cut" flying upside down at 15-feet cutting a ribbon between two poles held by two brave volunteers at air shows for over 26 years. Byrd performed as "The Flying Mayor of Milton" entertaining thousands of spectators at air shows coupled with raising financial funding for children's homes and military aviation museums. Some of his favorite air show performances included "Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads Air Show" in Puerto Rico; Lakeland "Sun N' Fun" in Lakeland, Florida for 20 years; "Dothan Air Show" benefitting Fort Rucker Helicopter Military Museum; "Gathering of the Clan Air Show" in Halifax, Nova Scotia and local performances at NAS Whiting Field and NAS Pensacola as an aerobatic pilot flying before the performances by the Blue Angels.
Byrd Mapoles was born on April 11, 1935 in Crestview, Florida and was the oldest of four children born to the late Clayton Webb Mapoles, Sr. and Hazel Byrd Mapoles. Byrd Mapoles graduated from Milton High School in 1953 and attended Florida State University for three years marching in the "FSU Marching Chiefs Band" and was a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. As a 4th generation Floridian and public servant, Byrd served as the Mayor of Milton for seven years and Santa Rosa County Commissioner for 12 years. From 1964 to 1984 built and owned WXBM-FM country radio station that he sold in 1984.
He has been married to Paula Lou Haskins of Mobile, Alabama for 46 years.
He is survived by five children a son, Harris (Chip) Byrd Mapoles, Jr. (Amy) of Pace, Florida; a daughter, Katrina Mapoles Parker (Brian) of Pace, Florida; a daughter, Stacey Schlichter Burt (Danny) of Mobile, Alabama; a son, Stephen Schlichter (Rita) of Pace, Florida; and a son, Shane Nicholas Mapoles of San Antonio, Texas. Their daughter, Piper Mapoles Godwin, lost her fight to breast cancer in 1996; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Nelda Mapoles Thompson of Englewood, Florida and Carolyn Mapoles Rhodes (Ted) of Pace, coupled with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.
In 1995, Byrd Mapoles put his 16-point roll and Waldo Pepper Outside Loop air show maneuvers along with his 180 Super Decathlon air show airplane in the hangar to pursue working for GOD. Where he once was absent from church on Sundays flying air shows, he then "flew for the LORD" on Sundays from the pulpit!
Byrd, Paula Lou and family were active members of Elizabeth Chapel UMC in Chumuckla, Florida until at the age of 60, Byrd entered the Candidacy Program of the Alabama-West Florida (AWF) Church Course of Study to become a United Methodist minister. Byrd completed the required 20 courses of Theological Continuing Education enrolled in Mississippi Course of Study at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi and the Alabama Course of Study at Birmingham-Southern and Huntingdon Colleges in Alabama. Byrd was assigned to Bethel UMC in Atmore, Alabama where he served as a part-time local pastor for 10 years.
In June 2006, Byrd Mapoles was appointed part-time local pastor for the 122-year-old Mae Edwards Memorial UMC located on Mulat Road in Milton, Florida, and in the Pensacola District. At Mae Edwards, Byrd implemented 125th anniversary of Mae Edwards and in 2009 received from AWF Conference the "2010 Local Church Heritage Award" at June 2010 Annual AWF Conference. Mae Edwards received the honor of designation as an "All Star Church" in the Pensacola District for several years. Byrd served Mae Edwards UMC for 12 years. In the community, Byrd served as a member of the Santa Rosa Medical Center Pastoral Council as a hospital chaplain at Santa Rosa Medical Center in Milton, past president Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce coupled with being active in Blue Lake Walk to Emmaus and Scratch Ankle Emmaus Reunion Group in North Santa Rosa County.
Pastor Byrd Mapoles followed in the ministry as did his great-grandfather, John Thomas Mapoles, a "Range-Riding Baptist Preacher" credited with establishing numerous Baptist churches throughout Northwest Florida and South Alabama coupled with serving as the first County Judge of Okaloosa County. Whether on horseback spreading GOD'S word as did his grandfather or soaring for the LORD from the pulpit Pastor Byrd Mapoles traded his airplane wings in for making disciples for Jesus Christ!
Byrd and Paula Lou Mapoles have attended First Baptist Church Milton for the past six years after Byrd's retirement from the UMC in October, 2018.
A "Celebration of Life" Service for Harris Byrd Mapoles, Sr. will be held on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at First Baptist Church Milton, 6797 Caroline Street, Milton, Florida 32570, with visitation from 10:00-11:00am and service at 11:00am with Dr. Jonathan Russell officiating. Lewis Funeral Home directing.
Donations may be made to First Baptist Church Milton Food Pantry, 6797 Caroline Street, Milton, Florida 32570; to your local Alzheimer's Association; or to a charity of your choice.
The Family wishes to thank the following Doctors/Memory Care/Hospice for the love and care given to Harris Byrd Mapoles, Sr. during his time of illness.
Doctors - Dr. Joseph Fountain; Jeremy Olmstead ARNP; Dr. Lawrence King, III; Dr. Brett Turner; Dr. Kimi Sohrabi; Dr. Vishal Gujral; Dr. Sean Branch; Dr. Kelly Reed; Dr. Terry Fall.
Memory Care – Your Life Memory Care in Pensacola, Florida to their staff, nurses, caregivers, culinary, maintenance and Pastor Fred. The Waterford at Creekside Memory Care of Pensacola, Florida.
Emerald Coast Hospice of Milton, Florida – to their staff for emotional, physical and spiritual chaplain support.
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