Francis Wills Granny

Eulogy

Mary Frances Beard Obituary

With hearts filled with both grief and gratitude, we announce the passing of Mary Frances Beard.  She peacefully went to be with our Lord and Savior on April 29, 2025, surrounded by the loving family.  Frances was a devoted mother, a pillar of strength and a beacon of faith.  She raised her children in the love of Christ.  She found solace in prayer, strength in scripture and joy in the simplest thing of life.  She was a woman of grace and unwavering faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cashius Ray Beard on December 11, 2019, her father and mother, George Edmund Beard and Gertrude Beard Kelsay and her siblings, James Houston Beard, Charles Thomas Beard and William Frank Beard.

Survivors include:

One daughter – Teresa McGilton (Kenneth) of Columbia

Two sons – Danny Beard and Audie Beard both of Columbia

Three brothers – Randall Lee Beard (Bea) of Mooresville, Indiana, George Beard Jr. (Pat) of Belton, Texas, Donald Owen Beard of Columbia

Two sisters – Linda Ann Bennett (Ricky) and Reva Jane Taylor (Doug) all of Columbia

Seven grandchildren, 14, great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren

Several other relatives and friends

Introduction

Good afternoon friends and family. We are gathered here today to mourn but yet celebrate the passing of Frances. I was introduced to Frances at a very young age. We moved in couple houses down and it wasnt long before Will and Jimmy introduced themselves. Chrissy, Shauna, Tasha. We were running all over Baker Street. We would bounce on the trampoline in Francis yard. Climb the buildings jump from the trees. We would play in the barn to the point of falling through the upstairs floor. She was always so kind. i cant remember at any point in my childhood of her yelling at us like most other adults were doing. Always offering drinks or food making sure we was okay.

After collecting some stories from the grandchildren its pretty evident she took church very seriously. Her faith was deep and steadfast. She contended for her husband, chilldren, grandchildren. She was a true matriarch.Always Making sure clothing was right, even holding kids when they are sick of dehydration, she was the granny every kid wanted. Many memories that we will never forget including some of which involving jumping out of bed of trucks from going to church only to get dragged back to the bed of the truck. This was how serious it was to keep her babies in church.

We mourn her loss and grief is very real but Francis knew that for her... death was just the beginning. She knew her faith in the one that took her place on a blood stained cross 2000 years ago would meet her at the end of this life. His name is Jesus. Frances had a personal relationship with the one who created her... called her by name… forgave her... transformed her... answered her prayers..and then.. carried her into eternity. She knows more about Jesus now and is celebrating around the throne room as we gather here today. Let me share a snippet of the journey her saviour took.

John 12:1–8

When Jesus was walking on this earth there was a certain woman named Mary who could be found at Jesus feet and would break a vial of expensive perfume and annoint Jesus before he went to be crucified. It says that the vial was costly, expensive, worth a years wages. The perfume would fill the room. The scent would spread through the room. Then it would mark the people in the room. Francis life is like that perfume vial poured out and the the scent has attached its self to everyone she came into contact to. Each and every one of you have memories of of her sacrificial love that she exhibited because of encounters with Jesus. The question I leave you today is how is your perfume? Is it a sweet smelling incense unto the Lord and will it draw others to Jesus like Francis? Will the aroma around you last generations?

Numbers 6:24–26 “The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’”

My hope is that we can answer yes to this question. James 4:14 “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” We are not promised tomorrow but today in this moment we can choose to follow Jesus. So that generations will be marked by the aroma of hope and love. When we have hope death is just the beginning. 1 Corinthians 15:55 ““O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?””

Do you have that hope? do you know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour? If not please lets have a talk after service is over.

Lets Pray....