Sylvania – Ralph Cecil Beard, Jr., age 72, passed away on Monday, February 1, 2016, at his residence under the care of Gentiva Hospice and his loving family. He was born in Screven County, GA to the late Ralph Cecil, Sr. & Kathrine Willene Morgan Beard. He was retired from Windstream where he worked as a communications tech, was a member of First United Methodist Church and he attended Friendship Baptist Church. He was also a Veteran, having served in the 459 Medical Reserve Unit of the U.S. Army Reserves. He was a member of the Wall’s 3:00 Coffee Club, a former member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and a former member of Old Spring Lake Hunting Club. He enjoyed flying his Gyro planes, fishing and hunting. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Jeffrey Beard.
Survivors: Wife: Donna Wiggins Beard of Sylvania; Daughters and Sons-in-Law: Lori & Lee Cook of Hixson, TN and Carrie & Cam Cannon of Los Angeles, CA; Sons and Daughters-In-Law: Keith & Sharon Barrs of Statesboro, GA and Stewart & Jill Thompson of Sylvania; Brothers: Terry Beard of Newington and Tommy Beard of Clark Hill, GA; Aunts: Edith Pullen of Sylvania and Dot Landing of Millen, GA; Grandchildren: Ashleigh Cook, Allison Cook, Patrick Cannon, Alecia Cannon, Kathrine Barrs, Jacob Barrs, Chase Thompson, Drake Thompson and Slate Thompson; 3 Nieces.
Visitation: Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 1:30 PM until 3:00 PM at Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home.
Funeral Services: Thursday, February 4, 2016, at 3:00 P.M., at the Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dr. Karen Zeigler, Rev. Chad Wall and Rev. Dent Wiggins officiating. Eulogy by Joey Cook and Dr. John W. Odom. Burial in Screven County Memorial Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Mack Beasley, Bob McBride, Joey Cook, Larry Royal, Chip Bazemore, Brian Bohannon, Billy Stuart and Dennis Daley. Honorary Pallbearers: Old Spring Lake Hunting Club, Walls 3:00 Coffee Club, Windstream Employees, Dr. John W. Odom, Lynn Derriso, Mark Counts, Jerry Winters, the SCHS Class of 1961 Planning Committee, Sherry Bohannon, Phillip Boston, Diane Royal, Dr. Jared Wood, Thomas Bland and Linda Jordan, Stephanie Mock, Lisa Banner, the Hospice Nurses who cared for Mr. Beard.
In lieu of flowers: Friendship Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1932, Sylvania, GA 30467 or to McBride United Methodist Church, c/o Debra Kelly, 286 Wildflower Road, Sylvania, GA 30467.
Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements. www.thompsonstricklandwaters.com
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