Fred Lyon Beard, age 89, of Columbus, MS, died April 7, 2010, at Baptist Memorial Hospital -Golden Triangle, Columbus. Funeral services will be Saturday, April 10, 2010, at 11:00 AM at Main Street Presbyterian Church with Rev. David Strain and Rev. Craig Barnard officiating. The interment will immediately follow at Friendship Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be Friday, April 9, 2010, from 5:00-8:00 pm at Memorial Funeral Home. Mr. Beard was born February 1, 1921, in Columbus, MS, to the late Eugene Truman and Frances Long Beard. He was a graduate of S. D. Lee High School where he was a member of the Chesterfield Club and a graduate of the University of Mississippi where he was president of his beloved Sigma Chi Fraternity for 2 years and a member of The Cardinal Club. From Ole Miss, Fred joined the Army in 1941 as a Second Lieutenant and was discharged as a Major after several postings. He graduated from the Harvard Business School with an MBA degree in 1948 and returned to Mississippi. He joined R. E. Kennington and Sons, a major Jackson department store, as the Merchandising Manager. Following Mr. Kennington's death, he joined WJDX Radio and was assigned to start a TV station, which became WLBT in 1953, and served as Vice President and General Manager until 1965. He was Vice President and General Manager of Coca Cola Bottling Works in Columbus from 1966-1984. Mr. Beard was a founding member of Magnolia Tennis Club and was the last living founding board member of Heritage Academy. He was a lifelong member of the Columbus Country Club, was an active member of Gideons International, and was a strong advocate of the United Way. Mr. Beard was a driving force and Founding Chairman of Citizens National Bank in 1978 and Wlov Television in 1987. Mr. Beard was a member and Elder Emeritus of Main Street Presbyterian Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Eugene Truman Beard, Jr. Mr. Beard was kind, welcoming, and had a deep concern for others. He had a giving spirit, loved animals, and had a great sense of humor. Suvivors include his wife of 67 years, Susanne Hazard Beard of Columbus, son, Fred Long Beard, Jr. of Baton Rouge, LA, sons and daughters-in-law, David Hazard and Boopie Beard of Jackson, MS, and John Stephenson and Jeanette Beard of Columbus, grandchildren, Frances Beard and Robby Glenn of Columbus, Susanne Beard and Brian Atkins of Madison, MS, Eugene Barkley Beard of Baton Rouge, LA, David Hazard and Elisha Beard, Jr. of Madison, MS, Beth Beard and IV Gunter of Columbus, John Stephenson and Ashley Beard, Jr. of Indianapolis, IN, Rachel Bell Beard of Memphis, TN, and Victoria Beard and Christopher Rhett of Columbus, and 14 great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be John S. Beard, Jr., David H. Beard, Jr., Eugene B. Beard, Brian Atkins, Christopher Rhett, Robert A. Glenn, Robert A. Glenn, Jr., and IV Gunter. Honorary pallbearers will be Bertram Jenkins, Richard Laws, Jack Kaye, Oscar Burris, Richard McRea, Jake Propst, Jim Ford, Sr., George Hazard, Jr., John Davis, Ralph Winton, George Winton, Warren "Oop" Swoope, Nick Hairston, Jr., Victor P. Smith and Tommy Glenn. Memorials may be made the the Main Street Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 26 Columbus, MS, 39703 or The Palmer Home For Children P.O. Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703.
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