Beloved educator, wife and mother and grandmother, Judy Beard departed this life from Baptist Hospital-Union County on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 after battling cancer and its complications. She was 68. Born Judy Carolyn Mickissick in Tupelo on Jan. 12, 1954 to the late Carl McKissick and Frances Baker McKissick, she graduated from Saltillo High School in l972 and continued her education at Itawamba Community where she received an AA in Education. She furthered her education with a BA from Mississippi State University and a Masters from the University of Mississippi. First employed by the Employment Security Commission, Judy spent over 35 years as a public school teacher in Lee County and Tupelo Public Schools where she excelled in classroom skills and was adored by her students. A quiet private lady who loved her community and serving others, Judy was the consummate wife and mother and grandmother. “ JuJu” was completely devoted to her 4 grandchildren. A longtime member of the Harrisburg Baptist Church, Judy was an amateur photography and loved Christmas and giving gifts.
A service celebrating her life will be held at 2 PM Friday, January 13, 2023 at Harrisburg Baptist Church in Tupelo with Dr. Chuck Herring, close family friend and pastor of First Baptist Church-Collierville, Tn. officiating. Burial will follow in Tupelo Memorial Park. Visitation will follow the service on Friday at Harrisburg. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to be serving their friends. Condolences may be e mailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net
Judy is survived by her husband, Tupelo Councilman Travis Beard, to whom she married June 20, l981; her sons, Tyler Beard of Nashville, Tn and Peyton Beard (Claire) of Atlanta, Ga; her grandchildren, Hudson (6), Ella Hastings (4), Jackson (2) and Lawzon (8 months); 2 brothers, Carl “Buddy” McKissick (Pat) of Smithville and Bobby McKissick of Saltillo and their families; special longtime friends, Ellen Caldwell and Lynn Replogle. She was preceded in death by her parents.
The family wishes to express gratitude to Drs. Jones, Harding and Washington and the entire staff at Baptist Hospital-Union County for their selfless contributions to her well being. The family asks that memorials be made to Association for Excellence in Education, Tupelo Public Schools, CREATE AEE, P. O. Box 1053, Tupelo, MS. 38802.
