Garry Lee Beard

Mr. Garry Lee Beard, 69, died Friday, September 27, 2024, in Oxford, MS. The funeral service will be Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Bro. Joey Shorter officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, October 1, 2024, from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at Waller Funeral Home and again prior to the service beginning at 12:00. Burial will follow in Kingdom Cemetery.

Garry was born on July 11, 1955, in Lafayette County, MS to Frances Traylor Beard and the late Jessie Lee Beard. As a teen, he met and fell in love with Ann Henry with whom he was soon to celebrate 50 years of marriage. Together, they raised their children and enjoyed life as a family. As a young family, they cherished the time spent camping during slow, summer days. They felt immense pride in watching their children grow into successful and happy adults and are forever grateful for the gift of becoming grandparents. When Garry was younger and life moved a bit more slowly, he enjoyed spending time in the woods hunting but was most often found working on cars and tractors, rebuilding engines, or anything that required his unique skill. He enjoyed tractor and car shows and taking his grandchildren with him. His children and grandchildren were taught and exposed to his tricks of the trade and loved spending time and learning from him. When it came to issues of motors, no matter the problem, he was never without a solution. Local and surrounding communities were blessed by his skill throughout the decades of Garry owning Beard Automotive Machine Shop and, even after leaving Oxford, his customers continued to call on him anytime they needed mechanical assistance even from far away. He even had a few motors shipped overseas. His knowledge and skills will be greatly missed by many but will live on through the many mechanics and car enthusiasts with whom he mentored and shared his knowledge.

Garry was known as “Pop” to 5 grandchildren who absolutely loved him and he adored them. He would chase them around the living room, jump out and scare them, put Legos together, and allow them to color his hair. He spent quality time with them sharing his knowledge and teaching them about motors and cars. Above all, his family and grandchildren brought him the most joy in life.

In addition to his father, Garry was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, David Allen and a sister-in-law, Nita Beard. Garry is survived by his wife, Ann Beard of Oxford; his mother, Frances Beard of Oxford; a daughter, Hope White and her husband, Zach of Oxford; a son, Brad Beard and his wife, Erin of Oxford; two sisters, Karen Allen of Tupelo, MS and Kathy Thomas and her husband, Harper of Oxford, MS; two brothers, Ronald Beard and his wife, Joy of Oxford, MS and Charles Beard and his wife, Pauline of Oxford, MS; five grandchildren, Tucker, Tyler, Karley, Taylor and Brinley as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Garry memory may be made to Kingdom Cemetery Fund, c/o New Prospect Baptist Church, 823 Hwy 334, Oxford, MS 38655.