Fount H. Beard died Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, at his home in Vicksburg. He was 84.

Mr. Beard was a welder and electrician who had retired from LeTourneau Co. Born in Scott County, he had lived in Vicksburg for many years and was a charter member of Oakland Baptist Church. Mr. Beard was known as the firewood cutter, and he enjoyed hunting.

Mr. Beard was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Conrad Beard; brothers Columbus Beard, Mack Beard, Jeff Beard, Wess Beard and Frank Beard; and sisters Mildred Johnson, Carrie James and Eula Grace Beard. 

He is survived by three sons, Terry Dennis Beard Sr. and wife Eunice of Richland, Wash., Thomas Fount Beard Sr. and wife Becky of Vicksburg and James Matthew Beard and wife Loni of Vicksburg; two daughters, Betty Ann Davis and husband Mike of Vicksburg and Tabatha Lynn Moore and husband Todd of Meraux, La.; a brother, Jim Beard and wife Ruthie of Vicksburg; eight grandchildren, Lori Michelle Cioletti of McKinney, Texas, T.D. Beard and Rachel Beard, both of New Orleans, T.J. Beard, Ashton Beard and Ellen Beard, all of Vicksburg, and Brooke Nevels and Landon Nevels, both of Meraux; and four great-grandchildren, Carter Craig Cioletti and David Christopher Cioletti, both of McKinney, Chloe Lane Beard of Richland, Wash., and Hunter Bladen Griggs of Byram.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the chapel at Glenwood Funeral Home, followed by burial at Green Acres Memorial Park. The Revs. Billy Higginbotham, Bob Conrad and Justin Rhodes will officiate.

Visitation will be from noon until the service Monday at the funeral home. 

Pallbearers will be Todd Moore, Dennis Lewis, James Emfinger, T.J. Beard, David Beard, Marty Tompkins, Dee Ferguson and Randy King. Junior pallbearers will be Landon Nevels and Ellen Beard.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Lee Giffin, nurses and staff of Mission Primary Care Clinic; the deacons of Oakland Baptist Church; Hoyt Hogan; Pat Tompkins; Wayne Beard; all nieces and nephews; Robert and Jean Sibley; Gerald Gregory; the Learning Garden and Preschool students and staff; and “His” Fan Club of Ann Moore, Maxine Sullivan, Jennifer Bowman, Cindy Hoffman, Myra Beard and Cindy Higginbotham.

Memorials may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.