Lorene Beard

Lorene Woody Beard, 93, a life long resident of Benton, passed away Sunday, January 11, 2009 in a local healthcare facility. She was a member of Antioch Baptist Church. She wrote the article "Down Memory Lane" for the Polk County News and also wrote many poems. She was a member of the Benton Chapter of the Eastern Star #157.

Mrs. Beard was the daughter of the late James Woody and Mattie Wiley Woody and was also preceded in death by her husband, Dearl F. (Bollie) Beard.

She is survived by her brother, Reverend Jasper Woody of Benton; sister, Golda Jones of Benton; half sisters: Deborah Carver and husband Dean Carver of Benton, Pauline Barnett and husband Charles Barnett of Pinson, Alabama, Carol Pirtle and husband Kenneth Pirtle of Decatur, Alabama; half brother James Woody and wife, Mary Woody of Benton several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 13, 2009 in the chapel of Higgins Funeral Home with Reverend Jasper Woody and Reverend Hoyle Ellis officiating. Interment will follow in Benton Cemetery with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service.

Her family will receive friends from 12-2 p.m. Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at the funeral home prior to the service.

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