Joel Byars Bearden Jr.

Joel Byars Bearden, Jr. of Hoover, Alabama passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2015. Mr. Bearden was born in Mountain Brook Alabama on November 19, 1923. His family moved to what is now Vestavia Hills, Alabama when he was three years old. Joel was one of twelve children, and his family ran a dairy farm and local general store. The dairy business would be Mr. Bearden’s occupation for more than sixty years, as he worked for Consolidated, Flavor Rich, Baker and Barber Dairies. Mr. Bearden was also a long-time minister and Sunday school teacher, serving at both Rocky Ridge Baptist Church and Hunter Street Baptist Church in the over the mountain area. He spent each and every day serving and glorifying the Lord, and will continue his service in heaven.

Mr. Bearden is preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Mae Bearden; son, Joel Wayne Bearden; father, Joel Byars Bearden, Sr.; mother, Ada Frances Jones Bearden; sisters, Mrs. Flora Howton, Mrs. Irene Stephenson and Miss Mary Bearden; and brothers, Mr. J.E. “Ned” Bearden, Mr. M.L. Bearden, and Mr. Wade R. Bearden. He is survived by his two daughters, Hilda Bearden Posey and Mickey Bearden Crowe; two sons-in-law, C.W. Posey, Jr. and Bennie E. Crowe, Jr.; two grandchildren, Curtis W. Posey, III and Bennie E. Crowe, III; two great-grandchildren, Reagan Posey and Curtis W. (Wilson) Posey, IV; sister, Mrs. Alberta Wooten and Mrs. Inez Gorman; and brother, Mr. Herbert Bearden.

The celebration of Mr. Bearden’s life will be at 2pm on Monday, February 16, 2015 at Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham. The family will receive friends at a visitation beginning at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation or the American Heart Association.