Marion “Lowell” Beard, 74, of Tift County died Friday, June 5, 2009, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 8, 2009, at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Chula. Rev. Larry Layfield and Rev. Kenny Kicklighter will officiate with burial to follow in Tift Memorial Gardens. Howard Duvall, Jay Phillips, Chris Cromer, Tommy Gay, Randy Gay, Jeffery Gay, Craig Thompson, Kirby Thompson, Kipp Thompson, Jody Thompson, Clint Thompson, Wesley Thompson and Greg Fowler will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be active and inactive deacons of Mount Zion Baptist Church. The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 7, 2009, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Beard was born on August 21, 1934 in Turner County and was the son of Charlie Clifford Beard and Buna Mae Carter Beard, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Angela Marian Beard. He was a retired farmer and a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he also served as a deacon. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and served four years. He was a member of the American Legion and the Chuster Club of Chula. He had lived most of his life in Tift County and was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather.
Mr. Beard is survived by his wife, Dorothy Thompson Beard of Tift County; one daughter and son-in-law, Ouida Faye and Rick Freeman of Kathleen; one granddaughter, Katarina Marian Parker; two brothers, Harold E. Beard of Tifton and Bobby C. Beard of McDonough; and one sister, Peggy Fowler of McDonough.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Mount Zion Baptist Church Building Fund, the Gideon Camp of Turner County or Hospice of Tiftarea.