Helen Sue Walker Beard, 71, of Tifton died Wednesday, November 25, 2009, at her residence. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 28, 2009, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Olin Hamlin and Rev. Dillard Ensley will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Bill Bass, Fred Barnes, Clarence Smith, Charles Swain, Wendell Hobbs and David Lane will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Friday, November 27, 2009, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mrs. Beard was born on October 20, 1938 in Cook County and was the daughter of John Chesley Walker and Betty Mae Kerr Walker, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Earl Carlton Beard. She was a homemaker and a member of Zion Hope Baptist Church.
Mrs. Beard is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Stacy and Becky Beard of Lenox; one daughter and son-in-law, Melinda and Ricky Hughes of Brookfield; one brother, Johnny Lee Walker of Lenox; one grandson, Ches Beard; four step-grandchildren, Jacob Shirah, Wes Shirah, Lisa Hughes and Leanne Hughes; and one step great-grandson, Landon Meens.