Beard

Funeral services for T.A. Beard, 95, of Thorndale are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, March 20, 2021, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale with Pastor Mark Porterfield of Pleasant Retreat United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Retreat Cemetery near Thorndale.

Visitation is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 19, at the funeral home.

Mr. Beard died Friday, March 12, at his home in Thorndale.

He was born Jan. 18, 1926, in Thorndale to John Alvie and Rose Elthe (Snow) Beard.

He attended school in Gentry and Gano.

After graduation from high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and served during World War II as a Petty Officer Second Class.

On Oct. 13, 1946, he married Rose Joy Bestany in Chelsea, Massachusetts. They made their home in Thorndale.

Mr. Beard worked as a safety representative supervisor for Alcoa in Rockdale. He retired in 1988 after 35 years.

Mr. Beard was a member of Pleasant Retreat United Methodist Church, where he also served as a lay minister for over 30 years.

He was a member of the Thorndale VFW Post 4009.

Mr. Beard was preceded in death by his parents, John Alvie and Rosa Beard; his wife, Rose Joy Beard; three sisters, Blanche Sheffield, Lona Ruth Coe and Mary Elinor Krueger; and six brothers, David, Wesley, Wayne, Chester, Johnny and Roy Lee Beard.

Survivors are two sons, John Beard and wife Elizabeth of Cedar Hill, Thomas Beard of Thorndale; a daughter, Elaine Alexander and husband Kenny of Thorndale; a sister, Rose Mae Carriveau of Groveton; and eight grandchildren, Ebony Beard, Josh Beard and wife Megan, Clint Beard and wife Masha, Erin Griffith, Lakyne Daniell and husband Clint, Chase Delacerda and wife Samantha, John Delacerda and wife Christian and Lindsay Prejean and husband Bryant; also, 19 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Kenny Alexander, Chase Delacerda, Josh Beard, John Delacerda, Trey Felton and Clint Beard.

Honorary pallbearers are David Lee Beard, Ken Prichard, Garrett Delacerda and David Prichard.