Marie S. Beard

Marie Susan (Passmore) Beard, age 85, a resident of Benton, passed away Wednesday, December 27, 2006 in an Etowah healthcare facility. She was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Mrs. Beard was the daughter of the late Reverend W. G. Passmore and Mattie Davis Passmore and was also preceded in death by her husband, Byran Beard; son-in-law, Frank Hammons, Jr.; brothers: Olin Passmore, Wayne Passmore, James Passmore, Paul Passmore, Charles Passmore and Bud Passmore; sisters: Mae Dale, Ethlene Brown, Pauline Beard and Nora Lee.

She is survived by three children and spouses: Rita Hammons, Janice and James Crabtree and Jack and Peggy Beard all of Benton; grandchildren: Jeanie and Terry Stone, Karen and Neil Stutes, Troy Hammons and Jennifer Hammons; great-grandchildren: Terry Stone, Jr. and Keegan Freeman; several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday in the chapel of Higgins Funeral Home with Reverend Jasper Woody officiating. Interment will follow in Benton Cemetery with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service.

Her family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Beard family guestbook at www.higginsfuneral.com.