James Edward Beard

James Beard Mr. James Edward Beard, 73, of Thomson, previously of St. Helena Island, SC, died August 6, 2008 in McDuffie County Hospital.He was a native of St. Joseph, Louisiana and the son of the late Tilmon Albert Beard and Ida Margaret Sykes Beard.Mr. Beard was retired from Dupont where he worked as a supervisor, he served in the National Guard for over 19 years and was a member of AMVETS Post #70 in Beaufort, SC.Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his step mother, Agnes Beard and a brother, C.C. Beard. Funeral services will be Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008 at 10:00a.m. in Phillips Mill Baptist Church with Rev. Robert Rayner officiating.Interment will follow in the church cemetery.James Michael Beard, Joseph Goss, Benji McAvoy, Brett McAvoy, John Hester and Leland Hester will serve as pallbearers and Eric Beard, Paul Goss and Doug Goss will serve as honorary pallbearers. Survivors include his wife, Shirley Mae Joyner Beard, Washington;two sons and daughters in law, James Edward Beard, Jr. and Gaye, of Taylorsville, NC and Michael Kim Beard and Rachel, of Washington; two daughters and sons in law, Kathy Lynn Bennett and Barry, of Thomson and Lisa Carol Ferguson and Bruce of Georgetown, TX; three brothers, Billy Beard, of Meridian, MS, Buddy Miller, of Baston, LA, and Buster Miller, of Buna, Texas; sisters, Ester Hester, Canton, Mary Downs, Washington, Pat McKiethen, Meridian, and Sandra Jones, Meridian; nine grandchildren, Eric, Jessica, Brittney and James Michael Beard, Jenny Johnson, Joe Goss, Kaitlin Braxton, Bruce Ferguson, III and Cameron Ferguson;and six great grandchildren. The family will receive friends Friday from 6-8p.m. at Hopkins Funeral Home.