Velma Florence Harris Beard was born August 29, 1914 in Carlisle, Arkansas to J.C. and Hattie Brown Harris. She died in Austin, Texas on March 31, 2022. Velma was the 2nd youngest of seven siblings, Beulah Harris Gray, Esther Harris Kirchoff, Jessie Harris Bovey, Perry Harris, Chester Harris and Robert Harris.
The Harris family moved to a rice farm outside of Stuttgart, Arkansas, where she grew up and graduated from Stuttgart High School in 1933. Velma met John Honnoll Beard in high school and they married in 1935. They had four children, John Harris, Robert, Sue and Tommy. The Beard family moved to Houston, Texas March 1, 1950.
Velma was very active at Park Place Methodist Church in Houston. She taught Sunday School for many years and was active in UMW and helped in the church office. She taught a Body Recall class at the church for over 30 years. Velma was a master bridge player and played at least twice a week. She and John learned the game as a young married couple in Stuttgart and often played with friends. In later years, she played in many bridge groups.
Velma owned and operated a home day care from 1958 to 1978. She influence the lives of over a hundred children during that time. After her husband, John, died in 1978, she closed the nursery and began to travel. She has visited the Holy Land, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Mexico and many states in the USA.
Velma was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Magna Carta Dames, and the Amici club of Stuttgart. Velma is predeceased by her husband, John, and two sons, John Harris and Robert. She is survived by her daughter, Sue Beard Kemp and husband, Donnie of Austin, Texas, her son, Thomas Ivy Beard and wife Ambrosia of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and daughter in law, Kathryn Vincent Beard of
Fordyce, Arkansas. She is survived by 4 grandchildren, Kristi Flatt and husband, Michael, Greg Beard and wife, Ashlyn, Galen Kemp and wife Danelle; and Shannon Franklin and husband, Trey. She is also survived by 10 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation and celebration of Velma’s life will be held on April 15th at 10AM at Cook Walden Chapel of the Hills in Austin, Texas. A graveside service and burial will be at Lone Tree Cemetery in Stuttgart, Arkansas on April 20th at 11AM.
Memorials can be made in her memory to the Servants of Christ United Methodist Parish (formally Park Place Methodist Church) 3827 Broadway, Houston, Texas 77017; Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie of Stuttgart, 941 E 4th Street, Stuttgart, Ark. 72160; Heifer International, [email protected].; ALS Association at [email protected].; or the American Cancer Society.
