Mother Bessie Lee Beard

BEARD, Mother Bessie Lee - Age 90, passed away Saturday, January 13, 2024 at her residence. Family hour 10:30 AM Saturday, January 20, 2024 at Foss Avenue Baptist Church, 1159 E. Foss Avenue, with service commencing at 11:00 AM. Pastor Brian Frelix, officiating. Interment Lovedale Memorial Cemetery, G-5175 E. Bristol Rd., Burton, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30 AM Saturday. Mother Beard will lie in state in the chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday. Mother Bessie Lee Beard was born November 7, 1933 in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, the daughter of Eddie and Mary Wade. She graduated from Utica High School in Utica, MS. Mother Beard was a resident of Flint, Michigan for 72 years. She was mar-ried to Leslie L. Beard Sr. for 50 years. Mother Beard attended Foss Avenue Baptist Church, where she served as an Usher and Mother of the Church. She worked at Sawyer Convalescent Home and later became a devoted homemaker. Mother Beard enjoyed reading her Bible, going to church, family events and shopping. One of her fa-vorite names to say was “Suga Lump”. Mother Bessie Lee Beard leaves to cherish her memory: 2 daughters, Michelle Gates and Meladie (Charles) Johnson, all of Flint; son, Leslie (Cynthia) Beard Jr. of Dallas, TX; grandchildren, Geral Singleton of Dallas, TX, LaTrisha (DeAndre) Chilton Sr. of Flint, Kevin (Shawn) Johnson of Detroit, MI, Mario Johnson of At-lanta, GA, Glenn Colen and Sharde’ Scott, both of Flint; 9 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Mary E. Terry; a host of nieces and nephews; 2 sisters-in-law, Helen Wade of Roch-ester, NY and Dorothy Olden of Tulsa, OK; a host of other relatives and friends including special friends, Velma Silk, Veronica Mastin, Raynetta Lovett, Michelle Young and Vivian Miller. Mother Beard was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie L. Beard Sr.; sons, James Beard and Glenn Beard; granddaughter, Dewanda Deloney; grandson, Matthew Colen; mother, Mary Wade; father, Eddie Wade; sister, Justine Hattison; brothers, Wilbert Brent and Arthur Wade; and mother-in-law, Ruth Martin. The family would like to express special thanks to Foss Ave-nue Baptist Church, Pastor Brian and Dr. Tya Frelix, Heartland Hospice and Dr. Katneni, Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and staff.

Mother Bessie Lee Beard

November 7, 1933 - January 13, 2024