Helen Dornbusch Beard

Born at Oakland Plantation in Redwood, Mississippi, to Herman Biedenharn Dornbusch and Annie Birchett Brown, she graduated from Carr Central High School in Vicksburg in 1953. Helen attended Mississippi University for Women (MSCW) for 2 years, majoring in music where she was an accomplished pianist. She finished her education at Vanderbilt University with a degree in Biology in 1957, and, after training at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, worked as a medical technologist for several years before marrying and becoming a homemaker.

Helen was a devoted Christian and a member of Colonial Heights Baptist Church since 1969, attending the Tommie Davis, and later John Patterson Sunday School Classes, and occasionally playing the piano for the church in her early years.

Helen is survived by her husband of 50 years, Jimmy Ray Beard, and two sons John Beard (Wendy) of Jackson and Herman Beard (Kathy) of Ridgeland, and 5 grandchildren, Andrew, Jacob, James, Clark and John Phillip Beard, as well as 3 step-grandchildren, Richard, William and Erin Robertson, all of whom brought her great joy. She is also survived by her sister, Martha Ann Eskrigge, 3 nephews and a niece.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations in her memory be made to the National Parkinson’s Foundation, PO Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741, or Colonial Heights Baptist Church, 444 Northpark Drive, Ridgeland MS 39157.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday April 9, 2014, at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm Tuesday April 8 and from 10-11 am Wednesday April 9. Burial will follow in Parkway Memorial Cemetery.