Born in Hickory to Roscoe and Elizabeth Lail in May of 1931, she graduated from St. Stephens High School in 1949 and married her lifelong sweetheart in January, 1951 while he was on Army furlough. They celebrated 74 years together as of January 27, 2025. After working at her father’s supermarket, L & S Grocery, she retired in the early 1960’s to become a full time homemaker. Betty was the consummate home executive. She unfailingly attended to the needs of her family from which she derived her greatest joy. Every day was greeted by a clean house and homemade meals, frequently accompanied by freshly made pies or cakes. She loved to sew and made the majority of her own and her daughter’s clothing even through middle age. She enjoyed playing the piano and often without warning its sound would fill the house with songs from the “40’s and 50’s”. In short, her home was one that fostered a love for life, family and God.
She came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior early in life and was involved with St. Stephens Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) until after her marriage when Highland Methodist Church became her church home. She enjoyed singing and praising the Lord and as a teenager sang as part of a radio program called “The Wayside Pulpit”. She served along with other ladies in several ways at Highland throughout her years there. Her spiritual life was quiet and steady, with evidence of her devotion to and love for Jesus Christ being found in all kinds of personal notations throughout her Bible. She was always confident that the Lord would deliver on His promises and now lives no longer by faith but by sight.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Sharon Lee Fredell; sisters, Mary Anderson, and Shirley Perry; brothers, Blake Lail, Harold Lail and Carl Lail.
She is survived by her husband of 74 years, Maura Lee Beard; son, Mark Beard of Charlotte; grandchildren, Wesley Fredell (Deborah) of Hickory, and Jessica Jordan (Michael) of Pittsburgh; four great-grandchildren, Tucker, Gabrielle and Henry Fredell and Connor Jordan.
A funeral service will be held in the Chapel of Drum Funeral Home in Hickory at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025 with Rev. Alan Gaylord officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Highland Methodist Church, 1020 12th Street Pl NE, Hickory, NC 28601.
Condolences may be sent to the Beard family at www.drumfh-hickory.com.
Drum Funeral Home in Hickory is honored to be serving the Beard family.
