Tazewell County, Virginia
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Obituary
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John C. Beard

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Obituary was found in an old family bible belonging to Emeline (Waddle) Burress, who was born in 1861.   No dates were shown. 
The clipping came from the Bluefield newspaper.  Submitted by
Sharon Baker Burress

 

JOHN C. BEARD, VIRGINIA SIDE, DIES

Well Known Citizen And N&W Bridge Carpenter Foreman, Succumbs; Funeral Service To Be Held Monday

The death occurred Saturday evening to John Chapman Beard, 63, widely-known citizen of Bluefield, Va., and veteran Norfolk and Western railway bridge carpenter foreman. Mr. Beard died at his home in West Graham following a stroke of paralysis Friday evening. He never regained consciousness and passed away peacefully. Last May, Mr. Beard had an attack, but he rallied and during recent months had spoken of returning to his work on the railroad. He was down town Wednesday, cheerful, and apparently enjoying much better health.

Mr. Beard, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Beard, was born and reared in Burkes Garden, and had spent his entire life in Tazewell county. He was twice married, his first wife Miss Maggie Stevenson and his second wife formerly Miss Thurman P. Watson, who with the following children, survive: William, L. L., M. B., Garnett and Calvin Beard, and Mrs. Maude Lawrence, Mrs. Vermal Lambert, Misses Lillian and Margaret Beard. He is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Lindsy Stevenson, of Liberty Hill, and by twelve grand-children.

Mr. Beard was a member of the West Graham Methodist church, a charter member of the Cedar Bluff Masonic lodge and was a member of Bluefield, Va., chapter, Knights Templar of Graham Commandery and Kazim temple, Roanoke. He was active in church and civic affairs and was held in high esteem by all who knew him.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the West Graham Methodist church and interment will be in Maple hill cemetery. The funeral services will be in charge of the Rev. C.T. Miller, pastor, assisted by the Rev. E. H. Cole, of Bluefield, W. Va. 

Mr. Beard had lived in West Graham for the past twenty-three years. His son, Bundy Beard, is a well-known athlete. Two of Mr. Beard's daughters, Misses Lilian and Margaret, are teachers in the schools of Tazewell county.

Active pallbearers: E. A. Deaton, C. W. Gill, W. H. Fleshman, W. E. Summers, T. E. Neel, J. S. Warden, J. B. Bowling, I. C. Vernon, W. F. Birkelbach, D. G. Carbaugh, D. B. Spracher, S. B. Maxey, Walker Slade. Flower bearers will be members of the Missionary society of the West Graham Methodist church.