Kenneth Santford Laird, age 93, passed away on March 23, 2026 in Silverhill, AL. He was born in Galveston, Texas on October 25, 1932 to Chester Samuel Laird and Luella Smith Laird. Shortly after he was born they moved to Tampa, then to Daphne, where he grew up and attended Fairhope High School. He and his wife Leone lived in the Mobile and Baldwin Counties most of their life. Kenneth was currently a member at FBC Silverhill and before then at Government Street Baptist Church. Over the years he was a deacon, taught Sunday School, served on committees, and sang in the choir. He was an engineer at Alabama Drydocks and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula. While at Ingalls, he was principal engineer on many projects for the Navy. He was also co-owner of a local Christian music store, the Amplified Version. He loved the Lord and loved serving Him. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, who loved traveling and spending time with family and friends. He retired from Ingalls in 1994, the day before his first grandchild was born and spent his retirement being the best grandfather in the world. Left to cherish his memory are his two sons, Kenneth Jarrett (Sonia) Laird, Russell Santford (Marsha) Laird and two daughters, Lisa Leone Laird (Mark) Huggans and Julie Renee Laird (Gary) McMillan. He has 7 grandsons: Brandon, Joshua, Nathan, Jarrett, Brett, Caleb and Collin, 8 granddaughters: Malissa, Elizabeth (Bess), Meghan, Virginia (Ginny), Morgan, Madison, Karla and Blakeley, and 5 great grandchildren: Cambryn, Jasper, Daisy, Liam and Everett. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Francis Leone Jarrett Laird, one daughter, Karla Francine Laird, his parents, one sister, one brother and a few precious grandchildren we were never able to hold here on earth.
October 25, 1932 — March 23, 2026
Services will be held Saturday, April 4, 2026 at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home in Mobile, AL. Visitation will be at 11:00 a.m. followed by the service at 12:00 p.m. in the chapel of Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
