Ann Laura W Beard

On Thursday morning, April 20, 2023, Ann W. Beard slipped the surly bonds of Earth and went to be with the Lord. She passed peacefully in her sleep with Lamar, her husband of nearly 63 years, at her side in a Hospice facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The cause of death was due to complications from multiple strokes.

Ann grew up in Choctaw County, Alabama and was Salutatorian of the 1957 class of Southern Choctaw High School in Silas, Alabama. In May of 1960, she married Lamar Beard at the Baptist Church in Gilbertown, Alabama and moved to Decatur, Alabama where she had two children, Timothy and Debbie and was an active member of First Baptist Church of Decatur. By 1973, Ann and her family relocated to Red Bank, Tennessee where she lived the remainder of her life.

Ann enjoyed vacationing with her family along the Gulf Coast and various mountain and forest destinations where she would often view the stars using her telescope. In addition to studying Astronomy, she enjoyed gardening, sewing, musicals and music. Ann’s kind and compassionate heart, her gentle spirit and deep love of family will forever be remembered by those that knew and loved her.

Ann is survived by her husband, Nathan Lamar Beard of Red Bank, TN; daughter, Deborah Beard Vickery of Hixson, TN; son, Timothy and his wife Lynise of Marietta, GA; three grandchildren, Nathan A. Beard, Robert S. Beard and Alexander M. Vickery; siblings, Clariece Waite Sparrow of Butler, AL; Norma Waite Beard and Husband Bobby Ray Beard, DMD retired of Jackson, AL; Sister-in-Law, Carlene Waite of Scott Mountain, AL; Nieces and Nephews, Pamela Waite Webb and husband Mike, Steve Sparrow and wife Rebecca, Karen Sparrow Hilgartner and husband Jim, Dan Sparrow and wife Michelle, Stanley Beard, DMD and wife Marsha, Kerry Beard and wife Jill, Stan Tidman, Michael Tidman and wife Corey and Dave Tidman; Numerous Great Nieces and Great Nephews.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Denton Thomas Waite and Mabel Taylor Waite; brother Gerald A. Waite, husband of Carlene; brother-in-law, Pettus Sparrow, husband of Clariece; sister-in-law, Christeen Beard Amick; brother-in-law, Ralph O. Amick, Jr.; sister-in-law, Louise Beard Tidman; brother-in-law, Roy P. Tidman; nephew, James Rodney Amick; and finally, Toni Tidman, beloved wife of Stan Tidman.

At age 16, Ann was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes which she lived with for 67 years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the JDRF “Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.”

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2023 between 10 AM and 12 Noon at the at the North Chapel of the Chattanooga Funeral Home located at 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, Tennessee. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 12:00 with Rev. Bill Harvey officiating. Interment to follow immediately thereafter at Hamilton Memorial Gardens.

Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com